Recognizing a real need for post hospital discharge support for older adult patients, Family & Nursing Care and Suburban Hospital partnered on a pilot program to evaluate the impact of a free shift of home care during the first 48 hours after hospital discharge. The goal was to evaluate the impact on readmissions to the hospital, as well as to break down the barriers of home care to those resistant to having care at home.

Mitch Markowitz, Vice President, Business Development at Family & Nursing Care and Margie Hackett, Transition Guide Nurse Manager at Suburban Hospital will be co-presenting on their learnings from the pilot program at the upcoming Lifespan Network Annual Conference and Expo in Ocean City, Maryland.

September 28^th – October 1st, join them at the conference to hear more about the overall program and its results, including pivotal information on how the outcomes of the pilot group differed from those that declined service.

Based on their findings, Mitch and Margie will present a best practice for maximizing conversations about home care prior to hospital discharge and help audience members understand the real gaps between discharge and the start of Medicare Home Health services.

Click here to learn more and register for the conference.

Elder fraud is a growing problem, and scams targeting seniors are prevalent and costly. The FBI estimates that the millions of older Americans who fall victim to some type of financial fraud each year lose more than $3 billion to fraudsters. 

Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite and are likely to have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit – making them very attractive to scammers. Additionally, seniors may be less inclined to report fraud because they don’t know how, or they may be embarrassed by having been scammed, or concerned that their relatives will lose confidence in their abilities to manage their own financial affairs.

Seniors, as well as those who have a hand in caring for an older loved one, should be informed on how to spot, handle and report elder fraud schemes.

Below are some resources for elder fraud education. We share similar resources with Caregivers so they know how to spot potential signs of fraud when caring for their clients. 

Educational Resources 

• The FBI provides helpful information on common elder fraud schemes and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
• AARP’s Fraud Watch Network is a free resource with tips on how to spot scams, guidance from fraud specialists on what to do if you or a loved one have been targeted, and watchdog alerts on the latest scam information in the news and/or in your specific area. AARP also advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to protect consumers and enforce the law. For additional help and support, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. 
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers fraud prevention resources including a free, downloadable “Money Smart for Older Adults” Resource Guide and a supplement to the Guide on recent COVID-19 Scams.
• DailyCaring.com lists 5 Ways to Prevent Elder Fraud. 
• The National Council on Aging (NCOA) shares the Top 10 Financial Scams Targeting Seniors. 

How to Report Elder Fraud 

If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, there is help and support available: 

• Get free help from the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline by calling 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET. You will be connected to a case manager that will walk with you through the reporting process. 
• Contact your local FBI field office or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. 
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asks all citizens to report anything you think may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you or a loved one has been a victim of identity theft, report it to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. 

Every client’s care needs are unique — starting with the amount of time per day or week they receive care. Care needs can range from a few short hours a day to 24/7, and Family & Nursing Care strives to provide access to the most affordable, consistent, and compassionate care for every client.

We often hear from clients and their loved ones that they appreciate having the fewest number of Caregivers providing care, but at the same time, clients often have home care needs that exceed 40 hours per week.

Caregivers who are Family & Nursing Care employees (Select) already typically earn on average $3 more per hour than what they would earn at other home care companies in our market. Even so Caregivers frequently tell us they’d like to work more than 40 hours a week at one job to have the opportunity to increase their income without having to work at multiple jobs. As a leader in the home care industry focused on attracting and retaining the very best Caregivers and exceeding client expectations for quality and continuity of care, we’ve found a way to meet the needs of both clients and Caregivers.

Family and Nursing Care Select does not limit Caregiver hours to 40 per week – and we don’t pass on overtime costs to clients. Instead, we absorb those costs internally.

With Family & Nursing Care Classic, because the Caregivers are independent contractors, we are able to refer Caregivers who typically earn a higher wage and will work longer hours for their clients without overtime rates being charged to the clients.

Whether working with Family & Nursing Care Classic or Family & Nursing Care Select, Caregivers are free to consistently work longer hours with the same clients, allowing caregivers to become experts in a particular client’s needs to provide them with superior care while at the same time earning more money. In addition, older adults benefit from having fewer Caregivers in and out of their home and more certainty in their days, which can improve their sleep schedule and reduce stress and anxiety.

Roderick and Sally French receive “Couple Care” from Family & Nursing Care Select. A Caregiver provides Roderick with meals and housekeeping during the day, while Sally receives 24/7 care.  Throughout the week, Sally’s round-the-clock needs are staffed by only three Caregivers. Roderick says that the continued affordability and consistency of care that Sally receives is an important aspect of her care that he doesn’t take for granted. “When an older person needs 24/7 care it’s critical to be comfortable with the Caregivers and have confidence in their abilities. Building that rapport with just a few trusted Caregivers becomes even more crucial over time as the care needs continue,” says Roderick. “We are grateful to Family & Nursing Care for being very cognizant of this need and for making a real effort to provide us with this affordable, consistent care.”

Family and Nursing Care is proud to help our clients age comfortably, and continuity of care is a big part of how we do it.

If you’re searching for a Caregiver who will treat your loved ones like one of their own, contact us today – we’d love to help ensure your family members receive the care they deserve, no matter how much care they need.

As families get ready to reconnect under sunny skies, it’s important to make sure older family members are protected from extreme heat. For older adults, warmer temperatures present additional challenges that can be detrimental to their health. Family & Nursing Care Caregivers can be on hand to help prevent and respond quickly to warm-weather health issues that arise – here are some of the things they can do to keep your loved ones safe during the heat of summer:

• Hydration: Hydration is key in the summer, especially for older adults. Caregivers can make it easier for clients to drink plenty of fluids during hot summer days by making sure there is plenty of cool water to drink both in the home and when they are outside, and by reminding them to drink.
• Proper attire: The best clothing for summer is light weight and made of natural materials like cotton or linen. These materials tend to be more comfortable and help our bodies stay cool. Before outings, Caregivers can help ensure their clients are wearing weather-appropriate clothes and have sunglasses and a hat with them to protect from sunburns, irritated eyes, glaucoma-related sensitivities, skin cancers, and more.
• Heatstroke: Older adults have a harder time regulating their body temperature, making them more prone to heat stroke, which can be very dangerous. In extreme heat, Caregivers can help their clients avoid serious issues by watching for changes in their condition which can be precursors to heatstroke. Common signs of heat stroke include a body temperature over 104 degrees, headaches, nausea, not sweating in spite of heat, dry or flushed skin, and fainting. If you notice anyone — especially older adults — with these symptoms, get them to a cooler indoor space, have them lie down, put ice packs on their body, and call 911.
• Mobility Issues: Even normal day-to-day activities require more energy in the summer heat, making it easier to get tired quickly. For older adults who have mobility issues, this problem is exacerbated. Caregivers can provide mobility support to your loved ones, ensuring they enjoy outdoor weather and don’t get too tired while out and about.

For more information on how we can help your older loved ones stay safe in any weather, contact us!

By Lisa Shepet, Director of Nursing, Family & Nursing Care Select

It’s that time of year again: the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Spring has officially arrived and with it comes the time-honored tradition of spring cleaning.

Whether your plans consist of a full deep clean, some quick tidying up, or none of the above, chances are your medicine cabinet could use a good once-over. Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind as you extend spring cleaning to your medicine cabinet:

• Check the dates. Examine everything in your medicine cabinet, including ointments, supplements, and vitamins. Discard any item that is beyond the expiration date. Many medications lose their effectiveness after the expiration date and some become toxic.
• Follow the one-year rule. For all medications (prescription as well as over-the-counter), discard any medications that are more than one year old.
• Dispose of any items that have changed color, smell, or taste. This includes any colors that have faded because they may have been exposed to too much light.
• Discard unmarked containers. If something is no longer in its original container and cannot be identified, get rid of it. In the future, always keep medications in their original containers so that you can easily recognize every medication. This includes ointments, which can easily be mistaken for creams.
• Be careful about throwing out medication. Because of the potential harm to the environment, it is not recommended to simply throw out medications or flush them down the toilet. Properly dispose of medication by placing it in a sealable bag, adding kitty litter or coffee grinds to make the bag unappealing for children or animals to eat, and throwing it in the trash. Remember to remove any identifying information from pill bottles before recycling. Additionally, some pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have safe medication disposal kiosks that provide a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medication at no cost.
• Consider relocating your medicine cabinet. Many people don’t realize that the bathroom cabinet is not the best place to store medication because of temperature and humidity changes that occur while showering. Medications should be kept in a cool, dry place, away from children. Consider a drawer in your dresser or a lock box in your closet.
• Do not give medications to friends. Doctors prescribe drugs based on a person’s specific symptoms and medical history. A drug that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.
• Lean on Family & Nursing Care for help. Family & Nursing Care offers several medication related services. For both Family & Nursing Care Classic and Select clients, Caregivers can remind you when it’s time to take medications. Family & Nursing Care Select clients can also benefit from services including pill box fills and medication administration.