When You Need to Stay in the Hospital Longer to Get Stronger
Sometimes, your loved one is going to be discharged from the hospital, and you feel that person is not ready to come home. You can refuse discharge. Every state has a quality innovation network Improvement Organization. These government agencies help people with Medicare and Medicaid.
KEPRO handles Florida, Georgia, etc. It is a beneficiary and family-centered, quality improvement organization that can help you.
Quite simply, this is how it works and I tried it with my mother a few years ago. The hospital gives a discharge order. You refuse the order. You call KEPRO for an appeal. A KEPRO physician reviews your loved ones record. The beneficiary and facility are notified of their decision.
Here is the cool part. You almost cannot lose. Reviewing the case takes 1-2 days, sometimes longer if a weekend is involved. Your loved one receives two days of care in the hospital. You are not charged anything for the extra days, because they cannot charge you during an ongoing appeal.
While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents across 50 senior facilities. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs.
The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues.
Medical alert systems should provide reliable, 24/7 monitoring by trained monitoring agents, allowing seniors and their caregivers to live with less worry, at home or on the go.
An alert system should provide the following:
If there is an emergency, you should be able to push the button on your pendant or wristband. Systems with Fall Detection will automatically send an emergency alert to the company if a fall occurs.
A monitoring center should receive the alert, and a trained monitoring agent should respond to over the base unit’s voice communicator. If there is no response, the agent should send help.
The medical alert system monitor should notify emergency responders and/or family as needed. Professionally monitored medical alert systems should help make life simpler and safer for seniors and their caregivers. Having safety measures in place can help seniors continue to live their lives independently and provide immense peace of mind to caregivers.
While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents across 50 senior facilities. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs.
The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues.
Some of the millions of people who get monthly Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits need help managing this money. A person assigned to help you manage your monthly benefits is called a representative payee. The Social Security office may decide you need a representative payee if they receive information that indicates you need help to manage your money. They try to select someone who knows you and wants to help you. Your representative payee should be someone who you trust, who sees you often, and who clearly understands your needs.
A representative payee receives your monthly benefits on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your current needs. Eligible costs include:
housing and utilities;
food;
medical and dental expenses;
personal care items;
clothing; and
rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).
If there is someone you want to be your representative payee, tell a Social Security representative, and they will consider your request. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be your representative payee. Ask them to contact the Social Security office.
If you receive a decision that you are appointed a representative payee and don’t agree that you need one, or if you want a different representative payee, write to the Social Security office within 60 days to appeal that decision.
If you can’t manage your finances, someone else can help. If you have a trusted friend or family member who can be your representative payee, their publication: A Guide for Representative Payees will provide more information on our representative payee rules.
While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents across 50 senior facilities. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs.
The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues.
Today was the trip south to Masada and the Dead Sea.This means it’s a very early morning so we can climb Masada before it gets too hot.When you enter the Judean desert, the topography changes dramatically and it’s incredibly beautiful.When the Dead Sea appears, the contrast of the desert and the blue water is incredible.It’s hard not to just stare.
A view of Masada.
When we got to Masada, I decided to take the snake path up.I’ve had some health issues lately and this probably wasn’t the smartest decision, but I took my time and made it to the top in a record slow pace.On the walk I got to spend time with friends as we talked and chatted.Even though it took a long time, I enjoyed the process of getting to the top.One of the guys on our trip had his Bar Mitzvah in the synagogue on the top of Masada which was incredibly meaningful.We toured King Herod’s amazing structure, something I’ve done about 15 times.I always enjoy exploring the steam baths which were ingeniously constructed, and you can still see some of the 2,000-year-old art painted on the walls.We finished the tour, headed down via cable car, and headed to the Dead Sea.
I love the Dead Sea.I know for some people it gets old very quickly but it never does for me.The water is beautiful and there is something about floating the way you do that is just enjoyable.Add the Dead Sea mud on your skin and the incredible mountain beauty both on the Israeli side and the Jordanian side and it’s captivating.After being so hot and sweaty from Masada, it was refreshing to float, cool down, and hang out.
Enjoying the Dead Sea.
After lunch, we headed back to Jerusalem to visit Ammunition Hill.This is the site of a key battle in the Six-Day War.It was essential for Israel to capture Ammunition Hillel (named because it had been a British Ammunition depot) in order to liberate the old city of Jerusalem.It was an incredibly fierce battle and when you see the battle site, it’s amazing to think what these soldiers went through and the bravery they exhibited.I first came to Ammunition Hill in 1989 on my first trip and it’s always been a place that is intriguing to me.After the tour of the battlefield, we went inside where General Effie Eitam (Ret) spoke to us.General Eitam is a true hero.He told us stories about the raid on Entebbe, in which he played a key role, and how miracles really happen in Israel.
The stories related to Entebbe.After the plane was hijacked, they didn’t know where Entebbe was.He was sent to the store to buy a globe so they could figure it out.Using a globe isn’t a good way to plan a raid.And just when they felt most hopeless, the phone rang.It was an Israeli engineering company who told them that they heard about the hijacking and that the plane was headed to Entebbe.This firm had built the Entebbe airport and had all the plans available, “if the IDF wanted them.”A true miracle.
The second story about Entebbe related to the creation of the plan for the raid.The plan involved parachuting from a plane into a lake and then swimming to shore to gain access.The plan was almost finished when once again, the phone rang.This time it was another company that told them they didn’t want to parachute into the lake for entrance.After getting over the fact that the operational security was terrible and their plans were being leaked, they asked why.It turns out that Idi Amin, the rule of Uganda, liked to take his enemies out on his boat for a breakfast meeting on the lake.He would end up throwing them into the lake, which was packed with large crocodiles.Without that call, they never would have known there were crocodiles in the lake and the raid would have been a disaster.General Eitam was on the plane that raided Entebbe.
And he told us that “it’s impossible to be a realist in Israel without believing in miracles.”He is truly an incredible man and I hope to one day take him up on his offer to us to visit him and his family in their home.
It was a long and exhausting day as we headed back to the hotel.The first thing I did was run a hot bath to soak in.My body was sore from the time on the bus, the hike up Masada, floating in the dead sea, and not much sleep.It felt great to relax.After a quick shower, it was time to head out to dinner at one of my favorite places, Lechem Basar in First Station (the old train station).The food is incredible and the company and conversation great.I had a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ experience as the door to the restaurant was open and it was cold.So I got up to shut it.Immediately somebody went through the door and propped it open.So I’d get up and close it again.And immediately somebody would go through the door and prop it open.We had great laughs and imagined what Larry David would end up doing since I was clearly Larry David in this situation.
At the Yeshiva.
After dinner we headed to a Yeshiva for a late night learning session.It was fascinating to participate as we discussed medical ethics and prayer with the 18-20 year old students and the Rabbis.Their tradition is to start at 11 pm, end at midnight, and then have chicken poppers and cholent to eat.I was too full from dinner to have any food but I enjoyed the conversation and experience.
It was finally back to the hotel to sleep.Another incredibly full and rewarding day.
Water, the most important liquid on the planet, makes up roughly 60% of the human body. That is why it is so important to stay hydrated. Most doctors agree that you should try and consume eight to ten 8-oz. cups (64-80 fluid ounces) of water each day.
The health benefits of drinking water are numerous:
Keeps your skin hydrated. Your skin is mostly made of water. When dehydrated, it can lead to disorders and wrinkles. Drinking water is the easiest and cheapest way to stay looking young!
Lubricates your joints. Cartilage contains 80% water. Dehydration lessens the effectiveness cartilage has on joints and, in turn, leads to pain and inflammation.
Aids in weight loss. Water is the perfect zero-calorie drink to replace soda or other sugary drinks. Drinking a big glass of water before a meal will also help prevent overeating.
Promotes healthy kidneys. Your kidneys are primarily used to filter liquids that come through your body. When dehydrated, kidney stones can start to form and, in extreme cases, dehydration can lead to kidney failure.
Relieves allergies. When your body is dehydrated, its airway constricts. This heightens breathing difficulties brought on by allergies or asthma.
Helps with healthy digestion. The digestive system is reliant on water to process food correctly. Dehydration can lead to digestive problems, constipation, and heartburn.
Water is so important to our everyday lives, and we should make a concerted effort to drink the recommended amount. Seniors tend to exercise less, and exercise increases one’s thirst, so they need to be especially careful to drink enough water.
According to the Institute of Medicine, almost 75% of Americans suffer from dehydration. There are plenty of ways to make sure you reach your daily recommended water intake. Try remembering to drink a glass of water after every bathroom break, or use one of the numerous water tracking apps. Keep a water bottle by your side.
While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501c3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion serves as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, and more to 450 Jewish residents across 50 senior facilities. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs.
The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues.
