Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: medication management

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Live Free Home Health Care Meets Your Level of Care Needs

At Live Free Home Health Care, we understand that each individual is different and so is his or her plan of care. Since no two patients are alike, we offer a complimentary in-home assessment and the following guidelines that anyone can use to understand care needs.

Minimal Care at Home:

• Emergency Responsiveness: The senior is able to negotiate stairs, call for assistance or respond appropriately to someone helping him or her during an emergency.

• Mobility: The senior is able to walk and transfer himself or herself from a bed or chair independently with infrequent falling.

• Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.): The senior is able to accomplish most activities with little help; perhaps needs assistance with meals or housekeeping, or reminders about medications, assistance grooming, etc.

• Mental Status: The senior has little to no mental impairment.

More to Full-time Care at Home:

• Emergency Responsiveness: The senior needs definite or major assistance in the event of an emergency.

• Mobility: The senior is prone to falls and needs either stand-by or full assistance walking or transferring.

• Activities of Daily Living: The senior needs reminders and/or full assistance with many or all activities of daily living.

• Mental Status: The senior has mild to moderate memory impairment, becomes disoriented often, and/or exhibits mild confusion.

If a senior is in need of full, around-the-clock assistance, family members may want to consider an assisted living facility, although home care may still be a viable option. If you're looking for a partner in home care in Concord, the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make providing quality care a little easier.

Tags:   eldercare, home companion, home safety, medication management, safety alert

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Thursday, February 02, 2012

High Tech Home Care Options for Aging in Place

Technology is transforming the possibilities for aging safely at home. From fall prevention to emergency alerts to medication reminders, devices are allowing more seniors to “age in place” in the comfort of home. The following are products to consider for loved ones receiving in-home care:

• Webcams: Installing webcams throughout the home allows both family members and caregivers the ability to virtually check in on the senior at any time. Webcams also allow family members who live far way to video chat with their loved ones.

• Sensor Monitors: In conjunction with webcams, sensors can be placed throughout the home to track movement. These are particularly handy for seniors with ambulation or wandering issues. Most sensor systems connect to a TV or computer monitor and an internet connection.

• Medical Alert Pendants: These handy devices have been around for a few years now, but continue to be updated to increase effectiveness. They are worn by the senior and the button is pressed in the event of a fall or other emergency, connecting the senior to 911 or another emergency response service. Check out Live Free Home Health Care’s medical alert pendants .

• Automatic MedicationReminders/Dispensers: These are perfect for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. An alarm goes off, alerting the senior to take his or her medication when an alarm sounds, and dispenses the correct dosage. If the senior misses a dose, an alert is sent to a 24 hour care center after 30 minutes. Check out Live Free Home Health Care’s medication dispenser .

Technology is increasing the level of independence that seniors can have in the home. If you're looking for a partner in home care in Concord, the Lakes Region or Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today at 603-217-0149, and let us help make your life a little easier.

Tags:   better quality of life, eldercare, home safety, medical alert, medication management

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Friday, August 26, 2011

How to Develop an Open Line of Communication with Your Physician

Communication is a key to any successful relationship. When it comes to doctor/patient relationships, communication is also key to receiving the best healthcare possible. However, it is not always easy for patients to talk to their physicians, especially for older Americans – though the older people get, the more important it is for them to nurture an open, honest, communicative partnership with their healthcare provider.

Knowing that your time with the doctor is limited, there are some basic ways to help maximize this time. Preparing beforehand and then asking questions during the appointment are vital to achieve the best level of healthcare possible.

Before the Appointment

• Jot down everything you'd like to ask your physician.

• Note any changes in appetite, mood and/or body.

• For each, note the date that the entry is made, what it is about, and the changes noticed.

• Also write down changes in health since the last doctor’s visit.

• Bring a list of all your prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal remedies or supplements, as well as dosage information and side effects, if any.

Medical Testing 101

If medical tests are ordered during a visit to the doctor, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends finding out the following information:

• Name of test

• Reason for test

• What the test involves

• What the test will attempt to reveal

• Cost/health insurance coverage

• Dangers/side effects

• When the results will be ready

Diagnose the Diagnosis

To assist in understanding information while visiting the doctor, ask the following questions about a diagnosis:

• What is the name of my condition? How is it spelled?

• Why do you think I have this condition? What may have caused it?

• How long may this problem last? Will it be forever?

• What is the prescribed treatment?

• Is there a specialist who I need to see for further information or a second opinion?

Home care agencies, such as Live Free Home Health Care, can also be important advocates for a senior’s health and wellbeing. Among numerous skills and services, we can assist with scheduling and transportation to and from a doctor’s appointment, and in making certain that medications are taken as prescribed. Providing in-home care services in Concord, New Hampshire and the rest of the Lakes region and Central New Hampshire, contact Live Free Home Health Care today to learn more about how we can assist.

Tags:   communication, communication tips, home care, home companion, home health care, in-home care providers, medication management, private duty agencies

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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Simple Ways to Keep Track of Medications

It isn’t unusual for a senior to have several different doctors with different specialties. Because these physicians may each prescribe different medications, it is important that each physician know exactly what medications the senior is taking in order to avoid complications.

Make a list of all the medicines the senior is taking, including:

• Prescription drugs

• Non-prescription drugs such as aspirin, antihistamines, vitamins, supplements

Make a note of:

• How often each medicine/vitamin/supplement is taken

• Who the prescribing physician is

• Any side effects, unwanted feelings or symptoms

Be sure to ask:

• What is the name of the medication? How do you spell it?

• Why do you want me to take it?

• Are there foods, drinks, other medications or activities I should avoid while taking this medication?

• Should I take my medicine at meals or between meals? Do I need to take the medicine on an empty stomach or with food or a glass of water?

• What should I do if I forget to take the medicine and miss a dose?

• When will the medicine begin to work?

Keep track of all of these questions and answers in a notebook for future reference. This information can prove invaluable to a senior managing multiple health conditions. For further information on how to make the most of doctors’ visits, contact Live Free Home Health Care. We can help manage a senior’s medications and also have experience in seamlessly arranging, coordinating and monitoring a multitude of services to make in-home care a comfortable, successful experience based on individual needs and desires.

Tags:   home care, home health care, medication management

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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Medication Management

Almost 30% of all hospital admissions for people over the age of 65 are directly attributable to medication non-adherence. 125,000 people die each year from non-adherence, twice the number killed in automobile accidents. Approximately 40% of people entering nursing homes do so because they are unable to self-medicate in their own homes. About 50% of the 1.8 billion prescriptions dispensed annually are not taken correctly, contributing to prolonged or additional illnesses.

Medication management is a growing problem for seniors and at-risk individuals in the United States. Live Free Home Health Care as an affordable, easy to use medication management system with seniors in mind. Clients using our medication dispensers are on average 90% compliant to their doctor's prescription regimen. Our systems work because they are easy-to-use and make remembering to take medications a breeze. The systems are pre-loaded by the caregiver or medical professional and set up to remind the client to take their medication. When the time comes for them to take their next dose an alarm will sound and the dose will rotate into position. The medication dispensers can also be set up so that they are monitored by the care center. Monitored devices are hooked up to the phone line and notify the Care Center if a medication dose is not taken within an allotted amount of time. When the Care Center receives notification of a missed dose they will try to contact either the client or a pre-designated contact person, such as a loved one, for the client to remind them to take their medication.

Tags:   medication management

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