SPRING 2015 • YOUR ‘FIVE WISHES’ • PROTECT AGAINST SCAMS • MEDICATION MANAGEMENT TIPS • HEALTHY RECIPE residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (888) 930-WELL (9355)
In case you ever become unable to speak for yourself or make your own health care decisions, a living will can ensure that your wishes are understood and honored. The short Five Wishes booklet is a legally binding ‘advance directive’ that clearly indicates who you have selected to make decisions on your behalf (Wish 1) as well as what medical interventions, if any, you want to have taken (Wish 2). Beyond these legally binding requirements, Five Wishes places equal emphasis on your individual preferences, intending to ensure your personal comfort and dignity near the end of life (Wishes 3, 4, and 5). Things to know about Five Wishes : • Created by the nonprofit organization Aging with Dignity, in cooperation with the American Bar Association. • Currently meets the legal requirements of 42 states, including Michigan and Illinois. • Can be completed by any person age 18 or over for a small fee.
• Available in dozens of languages. • Plainly presents choices with clear explanations. • Easy for you to complete and for others to follow. Thanks to this inclusive document, making your wishes known may be simpler than you think. Visit residentialhomehealth.com/fivewishes for more.
Scams guard against
“...Telephone scams can take many forms...”
Elderly adults who live alone may be vulnerable to scams attempting to gain access to their finances. It is important to be aware of how you may be targeted, and what steps to take to protect yourself. Scams are often attempted over the phone: the caller may
To protect yourself,
REMEMBER THESE TIPS : • Never give out financial or personal information over the phone. • Ask for details in writing (e.g. address and/or business license number). • Use Internet research to verify that businesses and/ or offers are legitimate. • Take written notes, and ask for details and exact figures.
be a telemarketer pressuring you to make a donation, or someone claiming that your grandchild needs money to be bailed out of jail. Other scams might offer products that are overpriced (such as anti-aging beauty products) or not as advertised (such as counterfeit
• Never send money to unfamiliar people or places.
prescription drugs). Or scam
• Enlist a trusted loved one to help navigate financial decision-making and look over statements.
artists could promise to
• Trust your gut: if an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it generally is.
improve your finances through fake investment opportunities or a hefty reverse mortgage. Even your Medicare number may be targeted, which could lead to you being billed for incorrect services.
residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (888) 930-WELL (9355)
practice medication
management Using four or more medications daily (known as ‘polypharmacy’) can put you at risk for overmedication or harmful drug interactions. When juggling several medications and multivitamins per day, it can be easy to accidentally skip a dose, take a repeat dose, mistake one drug for another, or experience side effects. Follow these steps for better medication management: • When picking up prescriptions, make sure the labels are large enough to read and understand, and that the cap can be opened with ease. • When adding a new prescription, ask if it will cause adverse side effects when paired with regularly prescribed medication or food. • Keep a list of current medications (including drug names, prescribed dosages, and common side effects), and review and update it regularly — including sharing it with your doctor and care team. • Because it’s easy to confuse medications with similar names, look for ways to differentiate the drugs in your regimen: for example, draw a different picture on each cap. • The difficulties that come with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can put you at increased risk for missed or repeated doses. Look for helpful aids like electronic pill dispensers, which keep medications secure and remind you to take them at the proper times. If you have concerns about medication or would like a nurse to come to your home, call Residential Home Health at (888) 930-WELL (9355).
real-life
results Late one evening, a Residential Home Health patient tested his blood sugar as part of his diabetes regimen. Although he felt fine, his glucose level was low. When the patient was unable to bring this level back to the normal range, he pressed the button on his Residential Nurse Alert personal emergency response system to ask for help. Residential’s on-call triage nurse listened to the patient’s concerns and was quickly able to provide specific directions and helpful advice, which the patient followed with immediate success. The triage nurse then alerted Residential Home Health’s Certified Diabetes Educator, who followed up with the patient the next day with additional information and personalized instructions. Thanks to the convenience and assurance of Residential Nurse Alert, what could have developed into an emergency situation instead became an ordinary night — with
FIND OUT MORE For in-depth information, tips, stories, and our blog, visit:
residentialhomehealth.com
one press of a button. residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (888) 930-WELL (9355)
Featured Healthy Recipe
Chicken Penne Toscana Servings: 6
Calories per serving: 400
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •
6 oz penne pasta 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Salt and pepper 1 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary 3 cups cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 1/4 cup diced shallots 12 cups fresh spinach Grated parmesan cheese
Directions 1. Using a pot or saucepan, cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain, and set aside. 2. In a separate skillet, heat about half the oil at medium-high heat. Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside. 3. Add the remaining oil, rosemary, garlic, spinach, pepper, shallots, and beans to the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the spinach wilts. 4. Slice the chicken, then combine the pasta, chicken, and bean mixture. 5. Divide into portions; sprinkle a spoonful of parmesan cheese before serving. For diet and health tips, visit the Residential Home Health blog at blog.residentialhomehealth.com/blog
residential
when to call
Please don’t hesitate to call Residential Home Health if you have experienced any of the following: • Diagnosed with a new condition • Progression in current condition • Changes in medication • A fall (or increased fear of falling) • Hospitalization • Preparing for a surgery • Decreased ability to walk, shower, bathe, or eat • Shortness of breath during daily activities • Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
Call (888) 930-WELL (9355) at any time to talk with a nurse about resuming home care, or with any other questions. We’ll verify that Medicare will cover you 100%, obtain necessary information from your physician’s office, and coordinate your trusted Residential Care Team to come out and care for you again. residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (888) 930-WELL (9355)
5440 Corporate Dr., Suite 400 ï Troy, MI 48098 p: (866) 902-4000 p: (866) 902-5854 f: (866) 903-4000 f: (866) 903-4000
phone: (888) 930-WELL residentialhomehealth.com
residentialhospice.com
Welcome to the Residential Review As a recent Residential Home Health patient, you’re receiving our new periodic newsletter, Residential Review. We’re excited to bring you these resources and tips for daily independent living and wellness, and real-life stories of Residential Home Health patients who have inspired us. Should you ever need home care, call (888) 930-WELL (9355) 15 G 20 ES’ SPRR IN WISH ‘FIVE MS U
SCA INST T TIPS AGA EMEN OTECT NAG N MA ATIO EDIC 4000 PE ) 902RECI e: (866 LTHY phon • HEA
• YO
• PR
• M
tialhom
residen
.com
lth ehea
to speak with a Residential nurse — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit us online at residentialhomehealth.com for additional resources, videos, and articles.
READ. DISCOVER. LEARN. SHARE. residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (888) 930-WELL (9355)