Caregiver Connection Quarterly Newsletter

The Caregiver Connection Newsletter is a free publication of the Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA).

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July, august, september 2024

STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:

Changes in medicare for caregivers

Joe Biden signed an executive order in April 2023 to support the millions of family caregivers across the United States. It included more than 50 directives to federal agencies to find ways to better support caregivers. The order included various proposals to enhance Medicare rules to assist family caregivers with training and resources. There are three changes that have already begun to help family caregivers:

  1. Providers get paid to train family caregivers.

Under a rule that took effect Jan. 1, doctors, clinical psychologists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists and other health care providers can bill Medicare for time spent training family caregivers. Family members who are helping care partners with tasks such as giving injections, managing medications and changing bandages no longer need to worry about spending too much time asking medical providers questions about the steps they need to know. Before this revision, physicians and other health care providers did help caregivers learn the tasks that needed to be done, however, it was their personal time that they spent doing so.

2.  Patients with serious conditions get extra education.

The same rule also allows Medicare to pay for what it calls principal illness navigation services to help patients and their family caregivers with serious illnesses such as cancer, dementia and HIV/AIDS understand their diagnosis and decide on their health care options. Many caregivers realize that once their care partner is released from the hospital, they are unsure of how to provide care to their loved one in addition to not knowing what questions to ask the health care team. Individuals with more high-risk diagnoses will benefit from Medicare covering more services and making sure that people have assistance when they are trying to navigate the health care system, which can be complicated at times.

  1. Pilot project begins for dementia patients' caregivers.

A test program for caregivers whose loved ones have dementia is starting this year. Called Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE), it includes 24/7 access to a support line, care coordination, caregiver training, and at-home or adult day-care respite services. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for both people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers and help those with dementia remain in their homes longer. The pilot program isn’t accepting additional applicants but could be expanded if successful.

People with dementia and their caregivers are assigned to a care navigator who helps them access medical services as well as services such as meals and transportation through community-based organizations.

To learn more about the revisions to Medicare in 2024, join the Caregiver Support Program’s Virtual Day Time program “Medicare Changes” on Tuesday, September 17.

Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/medicare-support-family-caregivers.html

Vision loss

Did you know that July is Healthy Vision Month? As we age, there are natural changes that occur in our vision. According to the American Optometric Association, by the age of 40 years old, some common age-related changes include, but are not limited to, the need for more light while doing certain tasks, changes in color perception, problems with seeing a glare, difficulty reading and reduced tear production. There are times however that our eyes could tell us that there are deeper issues. By getting your annual eye exam, did you know that your eye doctor could potentially detect a variety of different health issues? An annual eye check could expose things including, but not limited to, vitamin A deficiency, thyroid disease, sarcoidosis, medication toxicities, high cholesterol, heart disease and more.

Sources:

If you are interested in more information on vision and eye health, join our Caregiver Support Program for our session on Wednesday, July 17 titled “Ask an Ophthalmologist.”

Mental health tips for healthy aging

September is Healthy Aging Month. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people over 60 is expected to double by 2050. To promote healthy aging and resiliency, researchers have found the need to expand their understanding of psychological well-being. A significant way to age in a healthy manner, not only physically but also mentally, is to continue to interact with family and friends. Since older adults may experience hearing and vision loss, or may not be able to drive any more, it is important to find things your care partner can do to reduce the chances of social isolation.

Marriage and Caregiving

Being a caregiver, for many people, happens suddenly and you can feel overwhelmed. If you are suddenly faced with having to care for your parent or sibling perhaps, it could be second nature to “dive right into the caregiving journey,” managing whatever tasks come along. If you and your spouse care for your in-laws, however, you might not know your boundaries, how involved you are expected to be, or feel like you are on the outside looking in during the process. The expectation of your spouse to step in and take care of their sick loved one might be second nature or it might not, but learning how to navigate your marriage, while your spouse has different responsibilities, could be a challenging task. If you or your spouse are now caring for the other's family, and you are struggling with finding balance in your marriage, consider some of these tips.

  • Don’t procrastinate having the discussion
  • Be willing to talk about anything regarding balances, household tasks and caregiving responsibilities
  • Remember to listen with an open mind and heart
  • Practice teamwork which your marriage was based upon
  • Give each other space to work things out and manage duties as well as practicing self-care
  • Keep up the simple things that you do regularly
  • Build a support network with friends, other family and resources such as those provided by BCDA

Sources:

The book nook

"Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging" by Nathan K. LeBrasseur, Ph.D. and Christina Chen, M.D.

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging discusses the biology of aging. It delves into common health and lifestyle concerns and outlines steps that older adults can take to enjoy longer and more purposeful lives. In this book, Mayo Clinic specialists discuss ways to challenge the brain and body, healthy diets, physical activity, resiliency, retirement planning, responding to personal risks and more. 

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