A newsbasket is on-line Internet publication containing comprehensive aggregated collections of information.


Massachusetts | Consumer and Provider Service Organizations

Resource List



No Active Alerts




The Official Website of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)







Breadcrumbs

  1. Home
  2. Consumer
  3. Physical Health & Treatment
  4. Healthcare Facilities
  5. Nursing Homes

Resource List



This is a partial listing of frequently used resources. When contacting any of the organizations listed below, be sure to ask if they have suggestions about additional resources you may want to contact.

Government Agencies

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Division of Health Care Quality
Telephone: (617) 753-8000
Survey Tool Information: (617) 753-8000
Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/dph/dhcq

Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
General Information & Referral Assistance (9am-5pm)
Telephone: (617) 727-7750 or 1-800-882-2003
(24 hours) 1-800-882-2275
Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/elder

The Massachusetts Commission on End of Life Care
250 Washington St
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Phone:617-624-5437
Fax: 617-624-5075
Web Site: http://www.endoflifecommission.org

MassHealth
Client Services, Medicaid Eligibility
Telephone: (617) 210-5000
Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/masshealth

Massachusetts Division of Insurance
Consumer Services Section
Information on Long-Term Care Insurance
Telephone: (617) 521-7777
Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/doi/

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
Telephone: (617) 727-8400
Web Site: http://www.mass.gov/ago

Consumer and Provider Service Organizations

Alzheimer's Association of Eastern Massachusetts
Telephone: (617) 494-5150
Helpline: 1-800-548-2111

Massachusetts Aging Services Association, Inc.
Telephone: (617) 739-3235
Web Site: http://www.massaging.org/

Living is for the Elderly (LIFE) Nursing Home Resident Advocacy Group
Telephone: (781) 646-1000 ext. 4733

Massachusetts Senior Care Association
Telephone: (617) 558-0202
Web Site: www.maseniorcare.org

Massachusetts Elderline
General Consumer Information on Free Prescription Drug Program and
Services for the Elderly
Telephone: 1-800-AGE-INFO

Hospice Federation of Massachusetts
Telephone: (781) 225-7077
Web Site: http://www.hospicefed.org
This information is provided by the Division of Health Care Quality within the Department of Public Health.








Massachusetts Home Care Program | Executive office of Elder Affairs in coordination with Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs),

Home Care Program Overview

Home Care Program Overview

The Massachusetts Home Care Program provides support services to elders with daily living needs to help maintain independent community living. Services are designed to encourage independence and ensure dignity. The program also supports families caring for elders in order to encourage and relieve ongoing care giving responsibilities. The Home Care Program is administered by the Executive office of Elder Affairs in coordination with Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), located in communities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The program provides homemaker, personal care, day care, home delivered meals, transportation, and an array of other community support services to help elders remain in their homes. The ASAP conducts comprehensive needs assessments to determine eligibility for the Home Care Program as well as other programs and services as appropriate. An individualized service plan is developed with the elder and his/her family. On an ongoing basis, the ASAP conducts reassessments and monitors services for quality.
Eligibility for the Home Care Program is based on age (60 years or older or under 60 with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and in need or respite services), financial status, and ability to carry out daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and meal preparation.

Eligibility for the Home Care Program


Age

60 years or older or under 60 with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and in need of respite services

Codes

Functional Impairment Levels (FIL) - Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Uniform Intake

Functional Impairment Level (FIL) 1-3, with critical unmet needs

Functional Impairment Levels

FIL 1 4-7 ADL impairments
FIL 2 2-3 ADL impairments
FIL 3 6-10 ADL/IADL impairments
  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, continence, transferring, and mobility
  • Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) include meal preparation, shopping, laundry, managing money, housework, transportation, use of telephone, outdoor mobility, and taking medicine
  • Critical Unmet Needs include ADLs, meal preparation, shopping, medical transportation, and need for home health services or respite care

Financial

MassHealth members are financially eligible. Income guidelines require Annual Gross Income less than $24,838/single and 35,145/couple.

Monthly Co-Payments

  • $9-$130 for individuals with incomes that range from $10,924-$24,837
  • $17-$140 for couples with incomes that range from $14,646-$35,144

Respite Over-Income Scale

  • 50%-100% of cost of services

Marie Marley Author, 'Grandma Doesn't Know My Name!' Helping Your Child Cope with Alzheimer's

brochure_childrenteens.pdf (application/pdf Object)

 The Alzheimer's Association has published a brochure for parents that lists the following behaviors children may exhibit if they are having a hard time understanding or accepting the disease:

This is an official publication of the Alzheimer's Association but may be distributed by unaffiliated organizations and individuals. Such distribution does not constitute an endorsement of these parties or their activities by the Alzheimer's Association. For information and support,  contact the Alzheimer's Association: 800.272.3900 alz.org
----

Author, Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer's and Joy

Children can be deeply affected when a beloved grandparent develops Alzheimer's disease. They may become afraid, confused, sad, angry, frustrated, guilty, worried, or embarrassed -- just to name a few potential feelings. Although each child reacts differently, there are some common fears:
1. The grandparent doesn't love them anymore
2. Their grandparent may be crazy
3. It's their fault that their grandparent is sick
4. They may catch the disease
5. Their parent(s) may get it

Loneliness and depression in spousal caregivers [Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2003] - PubMed - NCBI

Loneliness and depression in spousal car... [Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2003] - PubMed - NCBI: Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2003 Jun;17(3):135-43.
Loneliness and depression in spousal caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease versus non-caregiving spouses.


William F Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3812, USA. B29111@aol.com
Abstract

Loneliness as a factor in the development of depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) spousal caregivers has been given little attention. In this sample, 49 AD caregiving spouses reported significantly higher levels of loneliness and depression than did 52 non-caregiving spouses. AD caregiving wives reported greater loss of self and significantly higher levels of loneliness and depression than did AD caregiving husbands. Loneliness was the only predictive variable for AD caregiver depression, explaining 49% of the total variance. To meet the mental health needs of AD caregiving spouses, loneliness must be addressed along with the development of nursing interventions.

The Grieving Persons Bill of Rights pdf free ebook download from www.archomaha.org

The Grieving Persons Bill of Rights pdf free ebook download from www.archomaha.org




The Grieving Persons Bill of Rights pdf

View more  ebooks on ebookbrowse.com

Planning Checklist: For patients and their caregivers preparing to leave a hospital, nursing home, or other care setting11376.pdf

- http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/11376.pdf 
Your Discharge Planning Checklist:
For patients and their caregivers preparing to leave a hospital, nursing home,
or other care setting


 During your stay, your doctor and the staff will work with you to plan for
your discharge. You and your caregiver (a family member or friend who may
be helping you) are important members of the planning team. Below is a
checklist of important things you and your caregiver should know to prepare
for discharge.

Instructions:
•
Use this checklist early and often during your stay.
Talk to your doctor and the staff (like a discharge planner, social worker, or nurse) about the items on the checklist.
 
Check the box next to each item when you and your caregiver complete it.
 
Use the notes column to write down important information
(like names and phone numbers).
 
Skip any items that don’t apply to you

Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia | Alzheimer's Association Research Center

Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia | Alzheimer's Association Research Center:

They need your help to advance research

Through clinical trials, researchers test new ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Recruiting and retaining clinical trial participants is now the greatest obstacle, other than funding, to developing the next generation of Alzheimer's treatments.

------

They  need your help. Without participation, finding a cure is virtually impossible.

 #alzheimers

Download EasyLiving Free "Long Distance Caregiver Checkli

Download EasyLiving Free "Long Distance Caregiver Checkli

 The EasyLiving Home Caregiving Difference: With many years advocating for the rights of seniors and their families in Florida, we recognized what was lacking among private duty home care providers that elders needed most: flexible, high quality, personalized home caregiving. We established EasyLiving in response to what we would want for our own family, more personalized service, flexible scheduling and reliable, expert caregivers. We’re at your service whenever and wherever you need us, with home care for the way you live.


Phone:  727-448-0900      
Fax:  727-443-5258
1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 701
Clearwater, FL 33756                                  
Serving Pinellas and Pasco Counties-Clearwater, Largo, Belleair, Seminole, St. Petersburg, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey and more

Senior Care Tips for Sundowners Syndrome

Senior Care Tips for Sundowners Syndrome: EasyLiving Blog


Have you noticed your loved one with dementia experiencing changed sleeping patterns and more difficulty late in the day?
Most likely you are experiencing the set of symptoms termed Sundowners Syndrome or sundowning behavior in dementia.  For a variety of reasons (from our bodies' natural rhythms and light signals to learned patterns), persons with dementia may have particular difficulty in the late afternoon and evening hours.  The person often feels a sense of restlesness and agitation--a need to go somewhere or do something, the sense of being unsettled.  This may manifest itself as a need "to go home" and lead to wandering or may show up in a variety of behaviors.
Senior care providers should be aware of this set of symptoms and watch for such patterns.  A care facility may want to staff this time of day differently or plan for specific activities and try to manage the environment.  Some examples include changes to lighting, providing distracting and/or calming activities during this time, ensuring residents have a snack and are well-rested and reducing irritating stimuli.  More one-on-one attention may be needed for safety and reassurance during late afternoons and evenings.
Senior caregivers caring for a loved one or client at home should also monitor for different behaviors and patterns.  What are some things you can do to better manage sundowners syndrome and provide safe, dignified dementia care?

Wandering and Elopement Resources | NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver

Wandering and Elopement Resources: Practitioner Definition

NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver

FEATURED LINKS

Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York


Wandering and Elopement: Litigation Issues from  http://www.nccdp.org/wandering.htm
Marie Boltz, MSN, APRN-BC, NHA Director of Practice Initiatives
The John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing
NYU College of Nursing
Introduction           
One of the most challenging, life-threatening issues related to care of the person with cognitive loss is the occurrence of wandering, wherein the person strays into unsafe territories and may be harmed. The most dangerous form of wandering is elopement in which the confused person leaves an area and does not return. The risk of wandering has become a growing concern of families, long-term care facilities, regulators, and insurers

.1 In addition to civil liability, care providers can be fined by the state regulatory agency for failure to prevent elopement.

2 The effects upon the population served and the staff are no less dramatic.  The sense of security of those served and their families is severely shaken, and staff morale as well as the organization’s reputation is dealt a devastating blow. 

3 The aim of this chapter is to define wandering, elopement, and related issues, and to summarize the scope of the problems in terms of prevalence and effect. The types and causes of wandering and generally accepted approaches to care will be discussed. The regulatory and risk management considerations will also be presented. A hypothetical case will be presented. Finally, the role of an expert witness will be discussed.

Day Clock | Non traditional clock shows the periods of the day ( i.e particular part of the day)

Day Clock | Dementia Clock | Alzheimer’s Clock
The Day Clocks’ has a clear and simple display of “Now it’s Monday Morning” This clock is unlike any traditional clock you have seen. It does not have one single number on its face, just the days of the week.  Non traditional clock shows the periods of the day ( i.e particular part of the day)

Help your loved ones who have Dementia or memory problems In the US there are as many as 5.4 million people who have Dementia. If a loved one has dementia or any other memory loss problems, the DayClock will help remind them the time of day. Making dementia more manageable.






The Aetrex Navistar GPS Footwear System · GPS Shoe

The Aetrex Navistar GPS Footwear System · GPS Shoe: GPS Shoe

Millions of seniors with dementia will wander in search of their lost memories. While we can’t find those remembrances, we can find the lost victims themselves.

The Mayo Clinic describes Alzheimer’s and the problem of Wandering: The disease can erase a person’s memory of once-familiar surroundings, as well as make it extremely difficult to adapt to new surroundings. As a result, people who have Alzheimer’s may wander away from their homes or care centers and turn up lost, frightened and disoriented — sometimes far from where they started.
--
GPS shoes can help track people with Alzheimer's (video)

Alzheimer’s Speaks / Shifting Our Dementia Care Culture / International Resources

Alzheimer’s Speaks / Shifting Our Dementia Care Culture / International Resources


Bottom line all businesses, communities as well as individuals need to become Dementia Friendly. The statistics alone show the numbers are staggering and only growing. Now is the time to get ahead of the game before negative outcomes increase. We offer "Dementia Friendly Programs" for both companies and individuals.
Alzheimer's Speaks believes collaboration is the key to living a successful and purpose filled life with dementia.  By working together, we can push both conventional and alternative efforts forward in search of answers.  By joining forces and sharing knowledge, we can win the battle against dementia.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)