One of the things is providing information and  resources to educate our seniors particularly in the maze of navigating the health care system.

Medicare Part D is your Medicare Prescription Coverage.  It is a prescription drug option run by private insurance companies approved by Medicare and contracted by Medicare to help cover the cost of prescription drugs. It may help the elderly lower the drug costs and help protect seniors from higher costs in the future.

Seniors are eligible to enroll for  Medicare when they turn 65 years old. You can  enroll  Medicare Part D within the 7 month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn age 65, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn age 65.

November 15 to December 31 of each year is the enrollment period and the time when you can switch your Medicare prescription drug coverage and coverage begins  on the 1st of January the following year.

Seniors may also enroll between January 1 to march 31 of each year if they already have a Medicare prescription drug coverage. You must stay enrolled for that calendar year starting the date your coverage begins.

There are certain situations where you may be able to switch or drop Medicare plans such as if you move out of the service area, lose other creditable prescription drug coverage or live in an institution.

What you pay is a monthly premium in addition to your Part B, yearly deductible (some plans don’t have deductible) copayments or coninsurance or your share after the deductible.

The actual drug plan costs varies depending on your prescriptions, the plan you choose, whether the pharmacy you use is in the network and whether the prescription drugs are in your plan’s formulary list.

A coverage gap is available with most Medicare drug plans to pay after your plan spent certain amount and you have pay out-of-pocket limit for the year.

Catastrophic coverage is available once you reach your plan’s out-of pocket limit during coverage gap. This can assure you that once you have exhausted your covered drugs and out-of-pocket limit, you only pay a small copayment for the rest of the year.

You may want to check with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program to compare different plans and costs or visit www.medicare.gov for more information on your Medicare benefits.

For in-home care assistance and seniors who prefers to stay at home instead, please contact us at (941) 366-0801 for free consultation and care assessment in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Bird Key, Casey Key, Venice, Osprey, Nokomis and Lakewood Ranch.

Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix.

Falls are the top cause of accidents in people over age 65. Falls are also the main cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths in older people.

Even older people who appear to be strong and well can fall. Falling is a real threat to their ability to live on their own.

What are some causes of falls?

The normal changes of aging, like poor eyesight or poor hearing, can make you more likely to fall. Illness and physical condition can affect your strength and balance. Poor lighting ot throw rugs in the home can make them more likely to trip or slip.

The side effects of some medicines can upset the balance and make them fall. Medicines for depression, sleep problems and high blood pressure often is the cause of falls. Some medicines for diabetes and heart conditions can also make unsteady on your feet.

Clients may be more likely to fall if they are taking four or more medicines. They are also likely to fall if there has been a change in the medication within the past two weeks.

Help can be done by simply looking around the house or place of residence by using this fall prevention checklist:

Check that pets are not in your way.

Check that you are not dizzy before starting to move.

Stand up slowly and walk carefully.

Check clutter to prevent slipping or tripping:

• keep clutter out of pathways
• keep e;ectrical cords out of the flow of traffic

Check all rugs, runners, and mats to prevent slipping or tripping.

• Rugs and runners tend to slide. Double-faced adhesive carpet tape or rubber mats can be used to prevent rugs from sliding. tack down carpet edges to avoid tripping or remove throw rugs.
• watch each step as you move to different surfaces.

Check the telephone so they can get help:

• Locate the telephone where it is accessible in the event of an accident that may leave the client unable to stand.
• Suggest by buying cordless phone to keep with them as they move about.
• Post emergency numbers near the phone
• Suggest using a medical alert call button system. It is a good safety feature to have.

Check cupboards and closets to ensure self-storage:

• Organize cupboards and closets. Place frequently used items on shelves between waist and shoulder level to prevent climbing or stooping which may risk in a fall.
• If they need to reach a high shelf, is there a sturdy stool.

Check the bathroom to prevent slips and falls:

• Equip bathtubs and showers with non-skid mats and adhesive strips to prevent slipping.
• Is there grab bars? They help client get in and out of the tub or shower safely. They also help prevent falls.
• Locate a light switch ( a glowing switch that can be seen in the dark ) near the entrance of the bathroom. Nightlights are helpful too.
• Suggest a shower bench to bathe.

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care is committed to Fall Prevention at home for Sarasota and Manatee County senior residents. We provide a free in-home fall risk assessment done by our experienced clinicians to assist the elderly in keeping them safe at home and free from fall. A comprehensive fall assessment tool is used to find out what causes falls in the elderly at home and how we can help to prevent a fall. The clinician will inform seniors any modifications necessary depending on the outcome and degree of risk of the senior for falling. RIGHT ACCORD’s mission is to keep elderly in their homes as long as they possibly can.

In an era where disaster preparedness is more necessary than ever before, we should all have emergency documents ready in case of a natural or man-made disaster. Here are few tips:

Ask several relatives or friends who live outside your immediate area (approximately 100 miles away) to act as a clearinghouse for information about you and your family after a disaster. It is often easier to place an out-of-state long distance call from a disaster area, than to call within the area. All family members should know to call contact person to report their location and condition. Once contact is made, have the contact person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area. This will help to reduce calling into and out of the affected area once the phones are working.

Emergency Documents includes important information typically needed after a disaster. Copies of emergency documents should include vital information:

• Specifications for adaptive equipment (in case it needs to be replaced)
• Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is important when applying for disaster assistance).
• Social security numbers of family members
• Charge and bank account numbers
• Insurance policy numbers
• Securities, deeds and loan numbers including company name, address and telephone numbers
• Wills/ Living Trusts and letters of instructions
• Important Business documents
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificate)

The documents should be placed in a water proof container.

Should you be requested to evacuate your home you should remember to bring this container with you.

Right Accord participates in the Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan in the Sarasota County by submitting an Emergency Preparedness plan to the Sarasota County Health Department.

Seniors in Sarasota, Longboat key, Bradenton and Venice area who are receiving help at home from our Agency are automatically encouraged to fill out the Person with Special Need (PSN). Right Accord assists with registering seniors to the County Emergency Management Services if necessary. Right Accord will continue to provide services at the designated shelter to seniors who were receiving help at home.

Families living out of Florida who are looking for help for Mom or Dad in the Sarasota County or Manatee County who feel that they may need assistance during the hurricane season may contact our agency to arrange for care providers. We may arrange transportation to a safety place if it is needed especially seniors who require wheelchair transportation. Caregivers will assist the elderly with all the necessary documents and items needed to prepare prior to the actual evacuation.

Hurricane Preparedness is everyone responsibility. Be Prepared!

Major home modifications and redesigns can be expensive. Most elderly people cannot afford such an undertaking. Thankfully, there are several small, yet effective ways that families and caregivers can make their elderly loved one’s home more accessible to them. Here’s a list of some of these simple techniques.

Appliances

• Are appliances installed in a location that the senior can easily reach them?
• Are the control knobs clearly marked and in good working order?
• Is the water temperature set at a comfortable level?
• Is this control accessible in case a change is needed?
• Are heating and cooling units easily accessible and in good working order?
• Can the senior reach the freezer handle on the refrigerator, if needed?
• Are the appliances safely anchored to the floor to prevent overturning?

Lighting

• Is each room brightly lit?
• Are automatic nightlights installed in dark hallways?
• Are light switches easy to reach?
• Are electrical outlets plentiful and easy to reach?
• Are the outlets properly grounded to prevent electric shock?
• Are there any extension cords running from the outlets which may pose a fall hazard for the senior?

Other

• If the home is equipped with an alarm system, is the control panel installed at a level that the senior can access with ease?
• Are smoke detectors installed and functioning in every room of the house?
• Is there a telephone in the rooms that the elder would spend the most time in?
• Are televisions properly anchored to prevent them from falling onto the senior?
• Are the televisions equipped with remote controls that the client knows how to operate?

Still unsure about how safe a home is for a senior loved one?  Contact us for advice on how we can help your loved one remain safe in their own home.  We cover Sarasota, Longboat Key, Venice, Bradenton and surrounding areas.