Hello, I am Cody Freston, Publisher. Thank you for supporting the Seniors Blue Book of Idaho. We are your local Senior Resource Specialists. Whether it it is Assisted Living, Home Health or anything in between, we are happy to help you find what you need. Enjoy our new local homepage! Look for current Articles, Specials, Education, and view the current edition of the book and so much more. To our local healthcare professionals see how we can help you with networking, education, events, and see how you can showcase your services for seniors in the upcoming edition of the Seniors Blue Book of Idaho. Contact us today! Thank you and enjoy!
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Click to viewThe Senior Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Roadshow aims to provide education to Idaho seniors, adult family members, and caregivers who provide support to seniors and vulnerable adults through a series of free presentations open to the public. Along with IDOF, AARP Idaho, and the Idaho Commission on Aging- Adult Protective Services will share information and resources to help Idahoans prevent, identity, and report financial crimes and abuse, and provide updates on state level efforts underway to combat this activity. A meet and greet will follow each presentation. Light refreshments, gifts and door-raffle prizes will be available. Registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed online at the Eventbrite link below.
Saint Alphonsus Health System has the region's most advanced Trauma Center, which recognizes our dedication to providing the highest quality, most optimal care for all critically ill and injured patients. This distinction ensures we maintain the highest standards for chest pain, stroke, orthopedic and general surgery and emergency care. It also creates a foundation of medical excellence, innovation, and collaboration that makes the overall care all our patients receive throughout the region, that much better.
For our residents that need extra care due to Alzheimers related dementia.All of our residents in this portion of the community will be provided customized service plans provided by our trained care staff, available 24 hours a day with licensed nurse oversight.The service provided will be available in a tranquil and compassionate environment, catered towards those with higher needs related to memory loss.We also provide assistance with short-term respite stay accommodations.The Pointe at Meridian is a retirement community where every element of true living comes together in one harmonious placeLife within our independent living community can truly be carefree.Our main building also features a private movie theater, spa, salon, fitness center, activity rooms and much more.The Pointe will provide a formal fine dining experience for those looking to explore new cuisines, or old favorites. However, if you have plans and are on the go, we also offer quick snacks so you can grab something on your way out to wherever life takes you that day.Assisted Living:Whether you or your loved one need minimal assistance, or a more thorough and comprehensive care plan.Services Include:Weekly Housekeeping Weekly Personal Laundry and Bed Linens 3 Meals Daily Plus Snacks Transportation to Local Medical Appointments & Scheduled Shopping Outings All Utilities Expanded Cable TV & Internet A Vibrant Activity Calendar Our medical assessments are done prior to admittance into our community and routinely thereafter to ensure we are providing the top notch care you expect. All care plans are determined with input by you or your representative, our staff, and your primary care physician; in concert, we believe we will be able to provide the care necessary to achieve optimal success while maintaining dignity and respect.Memory Care Community for Our Residents That Need Extra Care Due to Dementia.All of our residents in this portion of the community will be provided customized service plans provided by our trained care staff, available 24 hours a day with licensed nurse oversight.The service provided will be available in a tranquil and compassionate environment, catered towards those with higher needs related to memory loss.We also provide assistance with short-term respite stay accommodations.
More than 90% of seniors wantto age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care canseem daunting. At Senior Helpers Boise Treasure Valley, we believe that gettingthe best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. We take in-home care seriously and make it a priority to providethe highest level of client service possible. Over the years we have built anexceptional team of care professionals, each committed to remaining at theforefront of the in-home care industry through our proprietary ongoing trainingand education programs. Like every other owner, Nick Magnusson is fullycommitted to the original goal of providing dependable and affordable in-homecare with well-trained caregivers, and Senior Helpers of North Idaho became isa valuable resource for seniors and families in our community. Making the decision to seek in-home care for a family member isnever an easy decision. Sherryl and her team at Senior Helpers will walk youthrough the steps, explain your options, provide relief to you and your family,and provide excellent communication with the aim of meeting the changing needsof your loved one.Senior Helpers of North Idaho is passionate about letting our senior community age in place with independence, grace, and dignity. We are committed to providing uncompromising levels of care to all clients and their families. Senior Helpers of North Idaho is passionate about letting our senior community age in place with independence, grace, and dignity. We are committed to providing uncompromising levels of care to all clients and their families.
Quality Home Care You Can Trust, AssistingHands provides professional in-home health care services allowing our clientsto remain safely and comfortably in their own homes. Their Mission Statement:To offer our clients personalized non-medical support services in their homes,assisting the elderly, disabled and others needing assistance to maintainquality of life. Our services support the individuals choices and preferencesin order to maintain their dignity and independence. We assist clients in a spiritof concern for their welfare, gaining satisfaction and a sense or pride for thevalue that we add to their lives.
Getting the Maximum Benefit From Your Medicare Advantage Plan Take advantage of everything your plan offers to achieve optimum health and well-being By Dr. Richard Smith, Medical Director for Humana's Senior Products in Idaho If you're one of the 14 million Americans enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you already know that your plan covers hospital stays, doctor visits and other major medical needs. But are you aware of the additional benefits and features that your plan offers? Being familiar with your Medicare Advantage plan will not only help you maximize the value you are receiving in benefits, but, in many cases, it will also help you achieve better health and well-being. Here are five important ways you can take advantage of your Medicare Advantage plan. Preventive Care: Medicare Advantage plans place a strong emphasis on preventive health care services that help keep you healthy, detect diseases at an early stage, and avoid preventable illnesses. That's why we encourage you to schedule regular health screenings fully covered by your Medicare Advantage plans, as well as an annual medical exam. These screenings can help your doctor catch things early when they're easier to treat. Care Management: If you are living with a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, what educational programs and support does your plan offer? Some Medicare Advantage plans offer personalized, telephonic care management, health coaching, education and support provided by registered nurses and other health professionals. These plans also offer a toll-free help line where you can speak with a registered nurse about your health concerns anytime. Wellness Programs: Many Medicare Advantage programs offer fitness programs at no extra cost and, in some cases, even include a fitness center membership. Through your health plan you may also be eligible to participate in exercise classes specially designed for older adults. Immunizations: Flu and pneumonia shots are another important part of your covered preventive care, since people 65 and older are at greater risk of serious side-effects of these common illnesses. Because this years flu season was one of the worst in recent years, make sure you are up to speed on your shots. Community and Financial Resources: If you have limited financial resources, you should be aware that there are plans available that provide extra services and lower plan costs for low-income beneficiaries, along with additional choices and benefits. If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid you may also be eligible for significant support and assistance from the government. If you're not sure, visit medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. These are just some of the benefits and features that can help you maximize your Medicare Advantage coverage and improve your health and well-being. Be sure to take a look at your health plan today to ensure you're getting the most from your plan. Editors Note: This article was submitted by Humana. For more information on Humana's senior products in Idaho call (208) 319-3400.
Read MoreA recent hospice patient was tired of being inside. He had cabin fever. During a visit by his nurse the patient was looking out his window admiring her Volkswagen convertible parked in the driveway. The last time he rode in a convertible, it was a VW, too. It was easy to read the memories on his face. One afternoon, on her own time, our nurse returned to the patients house. She helped him into the car and reclined the seat so that he could better see. She latched his seat belt and dropped the top on her VW. The day was sunny and the road filled with flashes from the past. They drove past places he had lived and churches he attended. They saw places his mother loved to visit.That day they drove back in time to recall a journey that had led to this very trip. After dinner out, our nurse took her patient home. He was exhausted, but the smile on his face after that ride will always be with her. Hospice is a journey through to the end of life. The goal is to treat patients with respect and allow them to live a full life during their last months. Hospice manages symptoms and pain. No hospitals, no beeping machines, no tubes. It is the end of life on the patients terms, with a helping hand to make the journey as fulfilling as possible. Hospice makes a difference in the lives of patients. A 2007 study that looked at Medicare beneficiaries with some of the most common diagnoses leading to death, found that patients who received hospice services lived on average, 29 days longer than those who did not receive hospice care. Hospice patients had 29 additional opportunities to enjoy their families, make a memory or share a smile.As hospice care providers, we strive to go the extra mile for our patients, in some cases literally. With deep roots in the Treasure Valley, we have served Idaho seniors for years and we understand they take personal responsibility seriously. We welcome your call to understand your family's unique needs and to help you make an informed decision for you and your loved one.Written by Devin Limb, Administrator United Hospice. dlimb@unitedhospiceidaho.comAccording to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the median length of service in 2011 was 19.1 days, a decrease from 19.7 in 2010.This means that half of hospice patients received care for less than three weeks and half received care for more than three weeks. The average length of service increased from 67.4 days in 2010 to 69.1 in 2011.
Read MoreWhen it comes to deciding whether a will or trust is best for you, it is important to understand your options and which one is most appropriate for your situation. Will A testamentary will (simply referred to as a will) is a legal document used to transfer an estate to beneficiaries after the death of the testator (the person making the will). Within the will, the testator usually names a personal representative (same as executor) for the estate. A will is revocable (it can be cancelled by the testator) or it can amended at any time by the testator. For a will to be valid in Idaho, it must meet specific requirements under Idaho law. Living Trusts A person, during his or her lifetime, may create a living trust whereby the settlor (the person making the trust), trustee (the person who has legal authority to manage the trust assets) and beneficiary (the person who makes use of the trust assets) are all the same person. After the settlor dies, depending on the trust instructions, the trust assets may be distributed outright, or held within the trust and distributed over time or upon the happening of a specific event. Living Trusts may be appropriate for persons who own real property in more than one state or have a blended family where spouses have children from prior relationships. Testamentary Trusts A testamentary trust is created upon the death of a person as specified in his or her will and holds assets within the trust instead of outright distribution such as when minor beneficiaries reach a specified age or graduate from college, or when a beneficiary is a person with special needs or disability who receives government benefits. A New or Updated Estate Plan Whether a will or trust is appropriate for you depends on your circumstances. If you already have a will or trust, it should be reviewed occasionally to make sure it reflects your current wishes and needs, or if you have relocated from another state, or upon any significant change in your life such as divorce or death of a spouse or beneficiary. This article was written by Donna A. Schuyler, Attorney, who practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianship and probate. Donna Schuyler Law, PLLC; elderlawboise.com; Phone 208-344-1947
Read MoreAlzheimers and Dementia Whats the Difference?People often ask, what is the difference between Alzheimers and dementia. Alzheimers is one of many types of dementia. In fact, it is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is the umbrella term for diseases that present as a decline in memory and/or thinking skills resulting in impairment of daily functioning observed over six or more months. Dementia, also called major neurocognitive disorder, can be caused by many different medical and neurological conditions. Other types of dementia include but are not limited to vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Parkinsons dementia. Alzheimers dementia is due to amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain that cause cell dysfunction and death eventually resulting in loss of daily function. It develops over more than 20 years before it starts to cause symptoms. People often first notice trouble with short term memory. While all of us can experience some difficulty with short term memory as we age, memory loss is worrisome for possible dementia when it interferes with the ability to complete routine daily tasks such as managing finances, medications, driving, or cooking.You should see a health care provider if you are worried about memory loss so they can explore this with you further. Your health care provider may be able to identify reversible or treatable causes of memory loss that are not dementia such as depression, a sleep disorder or medication side effects. Your provider may choose to run some blood tests and conduct head imaging (brain scan) to further understand cause(s) of your memory loss. Aside from brain autopsy we do not have one definitive, widely available test for Alzheimers disease. This means a health care provider will do a series of tests to determine the most likely cause of your symptoms. There are some recent advancements in blood tests, cerebral spinal fluid tests and head imaging that help us with the diagnosis of Alzheimers dementia, but these are not often covered by insurance. These tests will likely be covered by insurance in the future once we have more effective treatment options for the disease. Currently there are only a few treatment options for Alzheimers dementia, none of which cure the disease. These medications are only thought to slow the cognitive decline in select group of individuals. One group of therapies are called acetylcholine esterase inhibitors such as donepezil (Aricept) or rivastigmine (Exelon) The other class is NMDA receptor blocker called memantine (Namenda). These two classes of drugs have been around a long time with limited benefit. Recently a new class of Alzheimers drugs have been approved, anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody infusion therapies; aducanumab and lecanemab. Aducanumab was the first to be approved which did demonstrate a reduction of amyloid in the brain but studies resulted in no clinical data to support that it provides any observable benefit to the patient. The other medication lecanemab reduced amyloid in the brain as well and demonstrated minimal to moderate slowing of cognitive decline in clinical trials. Neither of these two newer drugs are covered by insurance but they may be covered in the future. Veterans Administration does currently cover lecanemab for veterans who meet specific criteria. There are many more anti-amyloid and anti-tau drugs in the clinical trials, and I suspect we will see more diagnostic tests and treatments for Alzheimers gain FDA approval over the next several years. Most importantly, everyone should know that 40% of all dementias can be prevented or the onset delayed by adopting a healthy lifestyle and addressing potentially modifiable risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, hearing loss). There is scientific evidence to support that the following are effective ways to reduce your risk of developing dementia; regular exercise, a healthy Mediterranean diet, weight loss, treating heart disease especially hypertension, getting restorative sleep, quitting smoking, avoid excessive alcohol use, early treatment of hearing loss, and stay socially and intellectually engaged.By the end of 2023 Saint Alphonsus will be starting a new state of the art Memory Center where we will provide a thorough multidisciplinary assessment of memory loss, explore access to the latest tests and treatments and offer you enrollment in our comprehensive Brain Health Program. For more information, please continue to check this website. You can however see one of geriatrics teams today for a memory assessment as well. Please ask your primary care provider for a referral to Saint Alphonsus Geriatrics Consult Clinic. By Kara Kuntz, MD, Geriatrician, Saint Alphonsus
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