Tag: Healthcare

4 Ways Seniors Can Turn to Technology for Healthy Living

Today, wellness isn’t just about taking your vitamins and hitting the treadmill – there are a wide variety of technological tools that you can use to improve and maintain your health. And these apps and devices aren’t just for young, tech-savvy people.

Our senior population is growing, and new technology can help seniors drastically increase their quality of life. Seniors who want to be proactive about their physical and mental health may benefit from using fitness trackers, motion sensors, and other devices. You certainly don’t have to be a tech whiz to give them a try! Here are a few ways that seniors can take advantage of wellness-oriented technology to take control of their health.

Review Your Medicare Plan

The Medicare Open Enrollment period has ended for this year, but it’s important for seniors to review their health insurance coverage before it’s time to enroll again. Since many seniors deal with chronic medical conditions, knowing that their insurance policy covers all of their needs at an affordable price is essential.

Seniors who have qualifying situations don’t have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period and can instead sign up for Medicare during the Special Enrollment Period. For instance, if you’re about to turn 65, you have seven months (beginning with three months before you turn 65 and ending on the third month after you turn 65) to sign up for Medicare. Be sure to research your Medicare options carefully and compare plans before you choose one that you can afford and that suits your healthcare needs.

Tracking Vitals With Wearables

Wearable fitness trackers are not just for dedicated athletes! Yes, many people use them to track their workouts, but these devices can be used for many purposes. Even seniors who are not able to exercise as often as they would like may want to see if wearables can help them accurately monitor their vitals. According to Techwalla, some wearables specifically designed for seniors can even alert family members of falls and connect with emergency response systems.

All wearable fitness trackers will monitor the wearer’s heart rate, and many will also keep track of your sleep cycle, too. This data can be valuable for doctors, and if you are experiencing concerning symptoms and abnormal vital signs, medical professionals might be interested in the metrics stored on your wearable.

Stay in Touch With Skype

According tothe AARP, seniors who report struggling with loneliness are also at a higher risk of disease. Emotional and physical health are strongly connected, and making an effort to stay in touch with loved ones can make a huge difference.

Seniors who relocate in their retirement years may not feel the same sense of community they enjoyed in their hometowns, but technology makes it easier to chat with friends and family who they don’t see very often. That’s where Skype comes in. It’s simple to use, can be downloaded onto a phone, tablet, or computer, and allows you to see your loved ones’ faces and hear their voices, no matter how far apart you are.

Remote Monitoring for Safety

There are many reasons why seniors would prefer to live in their own homes rather than move into assisted living facilities, even if they are managing medical conditions. Technology is making it safer for them to do so.

Remote monitoring systems, which involve motion sensors placed around the home that can send data to a trusted relative, make it possible for seniors to live comfortably at home and enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones will be updated in case of an emergency. A remote monitoring system can ensure a good balance between independence and necessary assistance.

The market for senior wellness is expanding, and in the coming years, seniors will be able to utilize countless devices and apps to manage their health. For seniors who want to maintain their independence, keep track of their vitals, and fully enjoy their golden years, the right wellness technology can be life-changing.

What Is A Healthy Relationship?

Hopefully, you and your significant other are treating each other well. Not sure if that’s the case? Take a step back from the dizzying sensation of being swept off your feet and think about whether your relationship has some of these qualities.

1.  Do not expect anyone to be responsible for your happiness.  Accept yourself. Respect yourself. Love yourself first. Take good care of yourself. If you want, you CAN always find something to do that makes you feel good about yourself right now. Love yourself, so pursue your real needs. Light up your true desires. Ask yourself why you didn’t? Too often relationships fail because someone is unhappy and blames their partner for making them that way. Your life is ONLY under your control. Keep reminding yourself you are good enough to have a happy life and a healthy relationship. Make yourself happy, and then share with one another.

 

2. Make and keep clear agreements.Respect the difference between yourself and your partner. Don’t expect he or she agrees with you on everything. Reach agreement or plan, and then commit to it. Leave the partner if you can’t come to any agreement or you find he or she always makes excuses for breaking the agreement or plan. If you say, you’re going to meet your partner at noon, be on time, or call if you’re going to be late. If you agree to have a monogamous relationship, keep that agreement and tell the truth about any feelings you’re having about someone else before you act on them. Following agreement shows respect for yourself and your partner, as well as creating a sense of trust and safety.

Use communication to establish a common ground to understand different points of view and to create a mutual, collaborative agreement or plan. You can either choose to be right, or you can have a successful relationship. You can’t always have both. Most people argue to be “right” about something. They say. “If you loved me, you would…” and argue to hear the other say, “Okay, you’re right.” If you are more interested in being right, this approach will not create a healthy relationship. Having a healthy relationship means that you have your experience, and your partner has his or her experience, and you learn to love and share and learn from those experiences. If you can’t reach any mutual agreement, that doesn’t mean either of you is wrong or bad; it only means you don’t suit each other.

3. Approach your relationship as a learning experience.Each one has important information for you to learn. For example, do you often feel ‘bossed’ around in your relationship, or do you feel powerless? When a relationship is not working, there is usually a familiar way that we feel while in it. We are attracted to the partner with whom we can learn the most, and sometimes the lesson is to let go of a relationship that no longer serves us. A genuinely healthy relationship will consist of both partners who are interested in learning and expanding a relationship so that it continues to improve.

4. Tell the unarguable truth.Be truthful to yourself and your partner if you want true love. Many people are taught to lie to protect someone’s feelings, either their own or those of their partner. Lies create the disconnection between you and your relationship, even if your partner never finds out about it. The unarguable truth is about your true feelings; your partner can argue about anything that happens outside of you, but he or she cannot rationally deny your feelings. Here are some examples: “I felt scared when I saw you talking to him at the party,”I feel angry when you hang up on me,” and “I felt sad when you walked out during our fight and didn’t want to be around me.”

Tax Inversions

Here are some reasons why you should know about Tax Inversions

Tax inversions have been in the news recently due to a number of high profile corporate tax inversions, which have led the US Treasury Department to impose tough new rules to limit the number of inversions. Examples of recent tax inversions are Burger King relocating its domicile to Canada after acquiring Canadian corporation Tim Hortons and Medtronic moving its domicile to Ireland after acquiring Covidien, an Irish corporation. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc was pursuing the acquisition of Allergan PLC, an Irish company, in order relocate its domicile to Ireland. That move has now been put on hold due to the Treasury Department’s new rules.

 

A corporate tax inversion is the relocation of a company’s domicile from one country to another in order to reduce the tax burden on income earned abroad. It is important to point out here that relocating its domicile does not equate to relocating its operations- the corporation can continue to carry out its operations in much the same manner as it did before the inversion; the only difference being that it is now subject to the laws of the new country of domicile rather than the old one. Reducing it’s tax burden this way can be hugely beneficial for a corporation- Elizabeth Chorvat, a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, has shown that between 1993 and 2002 inversions generated statistically and economically significant excess returns of 224.7% in the years following the inversion transaction.[1]

 

The chief reason inversions are such an attractive proposition for US multinational corporations (MNCs) is that the US, which operates a worldwide tax regime, is increasingly out of step with other industrialised countries, which use a territorial tax system.[2] Under the US worldwide tax regime income originating outside the US is taxed when those earnings are repatriated. Under the territorial tax system employed in other industrialised countries such as Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK, the residence country taxes only active business income earned within its borders. Foreign-owned MNCs are therefore able to significantly reduce their US tax liability on US operations compared with their US MNC competitors.[3] US MNCs therefore face a competitive disadvantage in comparison with their foreign-owned peers.

 

The failure of Congress to enact comprehensive tax reform to address this has led many US MNCs to undertake inversions. Bret Wells, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Houston Law Centre, has argued that faced with this situation it is no surprise that company directors, who have a fiduciary duty to maximize returns to their shareholders, choose to opt for inversions.[4] He quotes the decisions in Gregory v Helvering (1935)[5] and Commissioner v Newman (1947),[6] two prominent court decisions that say there is nothing wrong with arranging one’s affairs so as to keep taxes as low as possible and that nobody owes any public duty to pay more taxes than the law demands.

 

The problem with inversions, however, is that they erode the US tax base and put other US corporations at a competitive disadvantage.[7] After inversion most MNCs engage in earnings stripping, a practice in which foreign-based corporations avoid paying US taxes by artificially shifting their profits out of the US. They do this by having a US subsidiary pay interest on a loan from a subsidiary in another country, typically a low-tax country. The US subsidiary lowers its taxes in the US by deducting the cost of its interest payments and the foreign subsidiary owes little or no tax on those interest payments- it’s a win-win for the inverted MNCs.[8] This win, however, comes at the expense of other US corporations. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew argues that many MNCs that opt for inversion continue to enjoy the benefits of being based in the US including access to US markets, the rule of law, patent and intellectual property enforcement, support for research and development, infrastructure and a skilled workforce even though these inverted MNCs shift a greater tax burden to other businesses and American families.[9] The Congress Joint Committee on Taxation has said that inversions will cost the US Treasury over $40 billion in the 10 years between 2015 and 2025.[10]

 

The problems associated with inversions led the Treasury Department to bring in new rules, in April 2016, that make it more difficult and less lucrative for corporations to exploit the inversions loophole. Although these new rules will reduce the number of inversions, only legislation passed by Congress can get rid of inversions completely. The time is long overdue for Congress, not just to get rid of inversions, but also to comprehensively reform the US tax system in order to make it more efficient and effective.

 

[1] Elizabeth Chorvat, Expatriations and Expatriations, A Long-Run Event Study (September 20, 2015). U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 445. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2309915 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2309915 [2] ibid [3] Bret Wells, What Corporate Inversions Teach About International Tax Reform, Tax Notes, June 21, 2010, p. 1345, Doc 2010-11447, 2010 TNT 119-5 [4] Bret Wells, Cant and the Inconvenient Truth About Corporate Inversions, Tax Notes, July 23, 2012, p.437 [5] Gregory v Helvering, 293 U.S. 465 (1935) [6] Commissioner v Newman, 159 F.2d 848, 850-851 (2d Cir. 1947) [7] Jeffrey Zients & Seth Hanlon, The Corporate Inversions Tax Loophole: What you Need to Know, The White House Blog, April 8, 2016, https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/04/08/corporate-inversions-tax-loophole-what-you-need-know [8] ibid [9] US Department of Treasury, “Treasury Announces Additional Action to Curb Inversion, Address Earnings Stripping”, April 4, 2016, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0405.aspx [10] Congress Joint Committee on Taxation, Memorandum on Revenue Estimate Request for H.R 415, http://democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/JCT%20Score%20July%202015.pdf

In Home Senior Care

Home Care Jobs

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Learn how to find, hire, and manage care for your loved one.

elitehhcs.com provides technology and tools to help families and Caregivers connect with each other.

Each is solely responsible for selecting a care provider or care seeker and complying with local and federal laws in connection with a business relationship.

TOP 10 ELITE  FACTS:

1.    Not A Franchise

2.    Family Owned and Operated

3.    All Caregivers Are Employees, Not Contractors

4.    All Caregivers Have Passed Background Checks

5.    Elite Has Liability and Workers Comp Insurance to Protect the Caregiver and Those Being Cared For

6.    Elite Only Selects The Best Caregivers That Meet Our Standards

7.    We DO NOT Force Families Into Contracts

8.    We Are Referred By Reputable Organizations – Gentiva Hospice and Athens Regional Home Healthcare

9.    We Take Pride In Working With All Of Our Families

10.    We Are Here To Serve You and Your Loved ONE!

 

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Private Health Insurance

6 Private Health Insurance Lies

Informative Video About Who Pays for Private Health Insurance.

Private Health Insurance

 

Although many Americans rely on their employers for health insurance coverage, there are several circumstances in which private health insurance is critical. If the time has come to select your own insurance, read on for some tips to guide you in the process.

 

When You Might Need Private Health Insurance

 

Private health insurance is sometimes required if you are: A recent college graduate – Most college students are covered under a parent’s health insurance plan or a plan offered or required by the university and sometimes they’re covered under both. Grads lose their college insurance and independent status because of their age or graduate status, which also makes them ineligible to be covered by their parents’ policy.

 

Unemployed – If you lose your job because of downsizing or resignation, you are most likely eligible to continue with your employer’s health insurance plan under COBRA except that you will have to pay its full cost yourself – the employer won’t subsidize part of the cost like it did when you were an employee. Eventually, this coverage runs out, and if you are still unemployed, you will need to find your own insurance. If you lose your job because you were fired rather than a victim of a downsizing, you are not eligible for COBRA and you’ll need to find your own insurance right away.

 

Part-time employee – Part-time jobs rarely offer health benefits. If you work part time, you usually have to supply your own health insurance.

 

Self-employed – Unless you can be covered under a spouse or partner who is a W-2 employee, you have to provide your own health insurance if you work for yourself.

 

Employer – If you start a business that has employees, laws might require that you offer them health insurance. Even if it is not required, you might want to offer it to be a competitive employer who can attract qualified job candidates. In this situation, you will have to shop for a business health insurance plan, also known as a group plan.

 

Retired – When you retire, you are no longer eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance. You’ll have to buy your own and because of your age and possible health conditions, it can be quite pricey. Dropped by your existing insurer – Sometimes people who need to make extensive use of their insurance, such as people who have serious medical problems, are dropped by their insurance companies even if they’ve been loyal customers for years. If this happens to you, consider seeking the guidance of an insurance agent who can help you find a plan specifically for someone with your medical condition.

 

Why You Still Need Health Insurance

 

If you find yourself in one of the above situations, don’t go without coverage for even a day. A small emergency like a broken bone can ruin you financially if you’re uninsured. These things are called “accidents” for a reason – in other words, you can’t predict when they will happen. No one expects to get hit by a car while going for a walk or fall down the basement stairs when carrying the laundry, but these things happen and they can be expensive without health insurance.

If you think you can’t afford your own insurance, you might be wrong. While there is a lot of hype in the media about the rising cost of healthcare, health insurance plans are available at a variety of prices. You might not be able to afford the kind of plan an employer would offer, but any plan is better than no plan. At a minimum, you want to be covered in the event of a major incident, such as an illness or the aforementioned broken bone.

 

First, decide whether you want a health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organizations (PPO), high-deductible health plan (HDHP), consumer-driven health plan (CHDP) or a point of service (POS) plan. Depending on your situation, a short-term plan might also be a good option. After you’ve decided on a type of plan, you’ll need to determine a deductible you are comfortable with. What could you afford to pay out-of-pocket each year in a worst-case scenario? Remember, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium; if your monthly cash flow is low, you might have to opt for a higher deductible. Next, go to the website of each of the major health insurance companies in your area and examine the options for the deductible you’ve chosen. Plans available vary by state, and within your state, the premiums for each plan vary by zip code.

You won’t know what you’ll really pay per month until you apply and fork over your medical history. Price and coverage can vary significantly by company. Often, it’s difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison to determine which company has the best combination of rates and coverage.

 

Your best bet is to limit your options to reputable insurers, then choose the plan they offer that provides the best combination of features you’ll use at a price you can afford. If you’re choosing a family plan or an employer plan, you’ll want to consider not just your own needs, but also the needs of others who will be covered under the plan.

 

Factors to Weigh in Choosing the Right Plan

 

Health insurance plans offer a variety of features. It’s unlikely that you’ll find a plan that offers everything you’d like, but consider the following features you need most so you can find the plan that offers the greatest number of them.

 

Does the plan offer prescription drug coverage?

 

Does it only cover generics?

 

What is the co-payment (co-pay) on generics and on name-brand drugs?

 

What is the office visit co-pay, and does the plan cap the number of office visits it will cover per year?

 

What is the co-pay for professional services, such as x-rays, lab tests, and surgery?

 

What is the co-pay for a hospital stay?

 

What is the co-pay for an emergency room visit?

 

Do you want a plan that allows you to add vision and dental coverage at minimal cost?

 

Do you need pregnancy benefits?

 

Do you already have a doctor you like? If so, you might want to find a PPO plan in which your doctor is part of the insurance company’s provider network.

 

What is the plan’s lifetime maximum payout? Try to get the highest amount possible if you’re buying a long-term plan.

 

Does the plan offer discounted services for preventive care, such as a free annual check-up?

 

Do you want specialty services like physical therapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture visits to be covered? For PPOs, what is the cost for out-of-network services, should you want or need them? Can you afford this?

 

Conclusion: Getting your own health insurance policy isn’t as easy or inexpensive as getting signed up with an employer’s plan, but once you figure out what you need and become familiar with the terminology, it’s not too intimidating. With the number of options available, you can probably find a plan that meets your needs – and your budget.

 

Bibliography

 

“Buying Private Health Insurance | Investopedia”. Amy Fontinelle, 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

Home Healthcare Nursing

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Homecare

Homecare

Home Health services help adults, seniors, and pediatric clients who are recovering after a hospital or facility stay, or need additional support to remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. These Medicare-certified services may include short-term nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and assistive home health care. This care is provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), speech language pathologists (SLPs), home health aides (HHAs) and medical social workers (MSWs) as a limited number of up to one hour visits, primarily through the Medicare Home Health benefit. Professional Caregivers are trained to work with your family to develop an individualized home care services program. As part of this process, we match your loved one’s needs to a select group of compassionate in home care providers. With Elite Home Healthcare Services as your in home care provider, you are planned to be part of the caregiver selection process. Home Care Services with Elite Home Healthcare Services.

 

As your home care services provider, you will enjoy personalized service built around your needs. We know you have a lot of questions about home care services for your elderly loved one. The team of dedicated professionals at your local Elite Home Healthcare Services office is on hand to answer all your questions and to address any concerns you have. You can call your local Elite Home Healthcare Services franchised office at any time to learn about our in home care services. When you choose Elite Home Healthcare Services as your home care provider, we begin by reviewing your loved one’s needs. We will meet with involved family members and, when necessary, consult with the physician(s) of the care recipient, social workers, hospitals, or nursing home staff.

 

Our goal is to get a complete picture of your loved one’s in-home care needs. Our franchised agencies are trained to work with your family to develop an individualized home care services program. As part of this process, we match your loved one’s needs to a select group of compassionate in home care providers. With Elite Home Healthcare Services as your in home care provider, you are planned to be part of the caregiver selection process. Some of the services provided include:

 

  • Grooming Assistance

  • Dressing Assistance

  • Walking Assistance

  • Meal Preparation/Diet monitoring

  • Light Housekeeping

  • Errands and Shopping

  • Medication Reminders

  • Joyful Companionship

Respite Care for Family Caregivers Care is Available Mornings, Mid-Day and Evenings Temporary or Long Term Care is Available Weekends and Holiday Care is Available 24 Hour Care Available More

We Respond To Your After Hours Call In 15 Minutes or Less! Nothing is more frustrating than to get voice mail when calling an in home care services agency in the evening or on the weekends.

 

If you receive voice mail when you call Elite Home Healthcare Services, our franchised home care agencies are trained to call back within fifteen minutes. We’re committed to providing you with superior home care services and to meeting your needs in the way that’s most convenient for you! Find an Elite Home Healthcare Services Office Near You! You can learn more about our home care services and our compassionate caregivers by calling (678)-705-4424. We look forward to meeting your family!

home caregiver

7 Senior Helpers Secrets Every You Should Know

As the population ages, seniors are looking for new approaches to health care.

 

Many seniors want to remain in their homes, and their families are looking for information about home care that would allow the seniors to stay in the homes they love.

 

The term home care alludes to well-being and social services offered by senior helpers at the homes of older persons who require part-time or full-time care.

 

Home care is a wonderful alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes, especially for a senior who wants to stay in his place but requires regular care that his relatives and companions can no longer give.

 

Many of these seniors may not be debilitated, but they need assistance with a few exercises to keep fit and flexible.

 

Other seniors may need helpers because of a gradual loss of ability to care for themselves, such as those seniors who are impaired or terminally ill.

 

Seniors who are recuperating from illness or injury may also need assistance.

 

There are five types of home care services.

 

Some home care organizations may only offer a couple of services while others offer more:

Homemaker Services refers to the help given to seniors in managing their homes; for example, light housekeeping, shopping for food and changing the bed and bathroom linens.

 

Individual Care Services are services that are offered to seniors who need assistance with personal care, such as showering, dressing, eating, toileting, and strolling.

 

 

Dinner Services are services that provide meal delivery services to seniors in their homes or in senior centers, schools, houses of worship and other organizations.

 

Home Health Care Services is a term used to refer to services given to seniors who have good issues that must be dealt with, but still allow seniors to remain in their homes.

 

Senior Helpers give seniors help with medical care, such as changing bandages and dressings, taking vital signs and helping with pharmaceuticals.

 

Professional Health Care Services are rehabilitative treatments and skilled nursing treatments that are given by authorized attendants, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.

 

Before you can build a comprehensive home care plan, several steps must be undertaken. First, have your senior’s physical and emotional health conditions evaluated by someone familiar with geriatric issues, such as their personal doctor, geriatric counselor or physician who specializes in aging.

 

Some of the issues that families may want to consider when thinking about senior helpers are:

 

Mobility: As the senior ages, he may have difficulty moving around his own particular house and other places he regularly visits, and may need assistance.

 

Vision: Many seniors have vision challenges. The difficulties may include blurred vision, dimming vision, or narrowing of vision.

 

Vision problems may lead to less social association, sadness, and lower personal satisfaction.

 

Since senior citizens generally don’t inform their doctors or pharmacists about their vision issues, a vision screening may be important.

 

Hearing: Many adults have problems with their hearing as they age, and this can have an impact on their personal well-being.

Portable hearing aids and cochlear implants are prescribed in treating fundamental hearing loss, while a more particular therapeutic treatment may be required for severe cases.

 

Mental stability: This is one part of your senior’s well that is exceptionally hard to evaluate.

 

There is a thin line isolating the memory issues that accompany aging and those that may signal dementia.

 

Seniors with memory loss issues not attributed to aging may have symptoms such as difficulty performing or finishing daily activities, being more confused with everyday tasks, and experiencing problems recalling recent events.

 

Depression is another health issue seniors face. Loss of desire, low vitality and having no enthusiasm for others can be because of various reasons.

 

A geriatric psychological evaluation may be done to give a clear diagnosis of a senior’s emotional stability and to know whether there is a need for home care or not.

 

With the right planning and evaluation, you and your senior will be able to remain in their home with senior helpers that will ease your mind, and allow him to remain in the comfort of familiar surroundings.