Most of us, from time to time, find ourselves forgeting things. While this seems to occur as we age, it really can happen at any time. How many of you park your car when you go to shop and can’t remember where your car is? How many find yourselves driving on autopilot and suddenly you don’t know where you are going?
Our team recently wrote a book coming out this July, Old is the New Young, Erickson’s Secrets to Healthy Aging. The authors did a whole segment on the brain and memory with a test for your memory. More about that to come soon. But I took a comment from the book
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Ok so the title of the blog makes no sense to you, right? But it will if you are starting to feel clogged around your nose and eyes, feel pressure, kind of like a headache in your face? Welcome to my world, a world of allergies and sinusitis. It’s not the economy, nor Rush Limbaugh’s mouth, nor polls, nor politics, but maybe it is the weather. I have long been a sufferer of sinus problems and recently got on of those “nettie pots” where you put warm salt water in the pot that has a spout that fits in your nose so you can wash out your sinuses. Gross as that sounds, for me, it works. A miracle and not costly! Who knew?
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More physicians are charging annual retainer fees : Are you the recipient of a new wave of physician practice that actually charges you to have the privilege of seeing your doctor for more then 5 minutes? In MD, Va, and across the US, there is a new trend affecting the practice of medicine. Impacted by insurance reimbursement, including Medicare, or lack thereof, doctors are forced to see many patients to earn enough income to pay expenses. Many practices have become fast visits, no time to explore all the issues one person could have. While I understand the cause, the effect has been to force those people who can’t afford this fee for service ($1500 to $15000 in addition to having health insurance) to stay in their primary care doctor’s office. Call it concierge, boutique, retainer medicine, or personalized wellness—it generally means paying an added fee to guarantee your doctor sees you quickly, keeps you waiting less, and provides more time on individualized care.
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Yesterday, news media picked up on a story about Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland and there changing the way Emergency Rooms (ER) are designed, particularly for the senior or elder crowd. Why is it needed? Different needs as we age is the answer. And, respect, dignity, and care are the results. I try not to use this blog as a forum for promoting our organization because I think its better to have our residents, customers tell our story. However, every once in awhile I feel the need to tell a story of which I am so proud. This is one of those stories. Here is the news that needs to be told, spread, and have others in healthcare join with us in promoting. The outcome? Improving people’s lives. What a concept!
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So yesterday we moved Mom to the assisted living facility. I did not expect the strong emotional and physical draining I felt by the end of the day. It was very, very difficult. My mom was very sad about leaving her apartment. I told her she did not have to move to the assisted living. I was very scared to say this but felt I had to allow her to be in control, no matter the consequences. She said, no, it was her decision and she knew it was time to make the move. We talked about all the wonderful opportunities, the friends, her boyfriend, the chance to be more socially involved. I let her choose the clothes to take though she only chose a few (I won’t need them; I will die there). Obviously I packed way more then she chose.
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