In the following video, two doctors, Dr. Andrew Duxbury, professor of clinical geriatrics at the University of Alabama, as well as Dr. Barbara Paris of New York, who specializes in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, discuss the importance of monitoring prescription medication. “One of the concepts that I use with older adults in terms of medication is the one that I call the Main Brain,” Dr. Duxbury explains. “And that is that they have one physician, nurse practitioner or health care provider whom they trust who becomes the keeper of their medication list so that no matter where the buy
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Reminding patients that there's no place like home
When a person hears the terms home health care, in-home care or home health aide services, often times the first thing that comes to mind is caring for the elderly. This, however, is a bit of a misnomer, considering that home health care can run the gamut – from post-surgery care to speech therapy. “Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home,” Medicare.gov explains. “Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.” Just as it
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Life Services Network provides community to FHC
Creating community is not just a goal at Freedom Home Care; it is a mantra. Membership in leading organizations, such as Illinois’ Life Services Network, helps to fortify that initiative. Life Services Network is a statewide association that has represented the leading providers of services for older adults for more than 75 years. Its community includes more than 500 elderly health care providers in the state – the largest association in lllinois. Those members are assisted living communities, continuing care retirement communities, home and community-based services, home healthcare services, hospice care, independent living senior housing, nursing facilities and supportive living communities. “As
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What Freedom Home Care's philosophy means to Chicago
Before hiring an in-home caregiver for your loved one, there are many things to consider. One of the first – and potentially the most important – is the philosophy behind the home care agency. It serves as a glimpse into the morals and values of those overseeing your aging family member. At Freedom Home Care, we take our philosophy to heart every day when working with our patients. We are committed to the support of life and human value. Our mission is to provide consistent, high-quality home care services, which enable our clients to maximize their freedom, independence, comfort and
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Paving a road to hip replacement recovery
According to an article on AARP.com, total hip replacements are on the rise – to the tune of 285,000 each year in the United States alone. The figure equates to a 25 percent increase in just five years. “Total hip replacement surgery has some of the best results of all major surgeries,” Paul King, M.D., director of the Joint Center at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md. said in the article. Luckily, insurance will typically cover the bill, minus co-pays of course. Patients, too, will get their money’s worth, considering the implants typically last 20 to 25 years. Regardless
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Getting to know the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group
In the late 1990s, the concept of the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group emerged. Connie Polke, the concept’s innovator was a licensed respiratory therapist who recognized the frailty of patients and residents within healthcare facilities. The longer she worked in the field, the more she became concerned about patients’ well-being and especially so in cases of emergency. “Several years earlier, Bill Pretzer, a Battalion Chief for the Park Ridge, Illinois Fire Department, was called out to a flooding event at a local nursing facility, and experienced first hand, the dangers of inadequate preparation as well as the complications of moving these fragile
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Finding dignity through the clothing we wear
Your Life Calling, hosted by award-winning journalist Jane Pauley, celebrates the lives of American seniors and introduces life-changing products and ideas to anyone looking to improve their day-to-day routines. In a segment that aired last week, Pauley had the opportunity to talk to Jan Erickson who released her stylish and versatile clothing line that keeps mobility-challenged individuals in mind. From fashionabl buy sildenafil online e leg warmers to shawls that can double as lap blankets, Erickson has a deep understanding of what seniors need. As a caregiver herself, Erickson brings to light that even though some elderly individuals might not
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What the health care act means for seniors
For so many Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid, yesterday’s historic Supreme Court ruling was a major victory. According to the New York Times, many improvements that had initially passed in the bill early in 2010 and which could have evaporated had the law been overturned, have now been solidified into the act. Most important perhaps is the preservation of certain initiatives for advancing efforts to support elderly and disabled people in their homes, rather than in nursing homes, says the NYT. This includes the Community First Choice Option, “which assists states with the costs of in-home programs for
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Safety must-haves for your aging loved one
There is nothing more comforting than knowing that your aging loved one will be able to continue living at home as opposed to moving into a care facility. And although the value of dignity and independence are great, there are still some measures that must be put into place to ensure true peace of mind for all involved. By implementing certain products and equipment, family members can rest assured that their aging loved one is safe and sound at home and on their own. AgingCare.com compiled the following list of at-home care essentials, and we here at Freedom Home Care
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4 of 4: The signs of aging, a four-part series
Over the past week, we here at Freedom Home Care have been looking at the National Institute of Health’s “Eight Areas of Age-Related Change.” And we’ve been quite captivated by the list because we believe that being aware of the physical changes that our bodies undergo later in life is the best way to combat old age today. So as we post these last two topics, we’d like to thank the NIH for arming us with the knowledge that will help us better enjoy our twilight years. 7. Skin “The simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin healthy and young
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