Healthy Aging

The focus for healthy aging is usually placed on good nutrition and moderate exercise, but mental and emotional wellness should also be priorities for older adults. A good place to start is by staying connected with friends, family, and neighbors. As we age, we tend to become more isolated. Isolation can lead to social anxiety, self-esteem issues, and depression. Interacting with others, be it volunteering, taking a class, participating in a club, or a spiritual group activity, makes you feel better. Here are some other ideas for seniors to stay engaged:

• Stay informed about what’s going on around you. Educate yourself about current events and how they affect you.

• Don’t unplug, plug in! Don’t become an old turtle withdrawing into your shell whenever you don’t understand the latest gadget! Technology isn’t likely to slow down, so find an adult education class in your community or try an online service like TechBoomers.com, and learn how to keep up.

• Interact openly with your doctor. Make a list of questions and concerns to discuss at your next visit. Review your prescription medications and ask about alternative therapies that might enable you to reduce them. Report any changes you may be experiencing and ask about ways you can improve your overall health.

• Modify your expectations. Don’t despair when routine activities pose new challenges. You might not be able to do all the things that you once did in your youth, but you can find new ways to enjoy life.

• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep refreshes the body, mind, and spirit, but it can be evasive as we age. Aging causes sleep patterns to change, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Relaxation techniques like reading a book, listening to music, or drinking warm milk before bed can help.

• Find the fun! Connect remotely* or personally with people you enjoy being around and who make you laugh.

Healthy Aging and Home Health:

• Stay connected with your referral network throughout the month of September by promoting healthy aging. 

• Post about senior health and the benefits of home health for post-surgical rehabilitation on your social media outlets.

• Host classes on elder-care throughout your community. Highlight your geriatric care management, post-acute care, chronic illness care, functional disability therapies, and palliative care.

• Contact assisted living communities in your service area about helping their residents with limited mobility. Provide information on your physical and occupational therapy services and how they can help residents maintain their independence longer.

Visit tagwebstore.com for all your home health and hospice educational and marketing materials.

*FaceTime, Facebook Messenger app, Skype, What’s App, Google Duo, Viber, IMO

Geriatric Care Management and Home Health

May is National Older Americans Month and a good time to promote Geriatric Care Management and the role it plays in helping seniors navigate complex health decisions. It’s not widely known that many home health agencies offer geriatric care management as part of their care services. A geriatric care manager is generally a licensed nurse or social worker who acts as a surrogate relative to advise patients and their caregivers on appropriate short and long-term care planning. They are especially helpful to seniors who do not have family close by.  Care managers routinely:

• Act as advocates

• Assist with decision making

• Evaluate short and long-term care needs

• Explain complex medical issues

• Coordinate care services

• Direct and supervise caregivers

• Assess insurance benefits

• Refer estate planners

• Communicate with long-distance family members

• Consult with physicians

Home health care provides seniors with a collaborative team approach to health care, to identify and execute care practices based on the changing needs of the patient. As the senior population continues to grow and the need for care managers increases, it’s more important than ever that home health agencies promote this area of service.

Make senior care your marketing focus throughout National Older Americans Month. Here are some ideas for promoting home health services for seniors in your community:

• Conduct classes on elder care at places of worship with large senior memberships. Start by explaining the basic areas where home health care services excel: geriatric care management, post-acute care, chronic illness care, functional disability therapies, palliative care.

• Partner with local insurance providers and estate planners to host lunch-and-learns at senior centers throughout your service area. Provide materials that outline your services and the convenience of receiving health care in the home. 

• Arrange a therapy dog visitation day with skilled service facilities in your area to provide some fur baby love to the staff and patients. Partner with volunteers from the Local Pet therapy provider in your area.

• Call on assisted living communities to promote how partnering with home health care can benefit their residents struggling with declining mobility and other chronic health conditions. Provide information on your occupational and physical therapy services and how they can help residents maintain their independence longer.

Visit TAGWebstore for your home health and hospice marketing and patient education materials.