Social Security Benefits

https://www.nextavenue.org/retirees-lose-thousands-social-security-benefits/?hide_newsletter=true&utm_source=Next+Avenue+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ba28f21801-10_04_2016_Tues_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_056a405b5a-ba28f21801-165348737&mc_cid=ba28f21801&mc_eid=329313c88e

Great Video on the Cost of Aging

http://www.nextavenue.org/special-report/transforming-life-as-we-age/?utm_source=Next+Avenue+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=942d12a871-12.17.2015_NextAvenue_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_056a405b5a-942d12a871-165348737&mc_cid=942d12a871&mc_eid=329313c88e#video

Speaking to Someone with Dementia

http://www.nextavenue.org/when-should-you-talk-differently-to-someone-with-dementia/?hide_newsletter=true&bt_alias=eyJ1c2VySWQiOiI3YTQwM2FkOS1kODgyLTRlZDMtYWFmYS1jOTBkYmU2YmZkNDgifQ%3D%3D

Cutest Elderly Couple

Signs of Dementia

http://www.nextavenue.org/7-surprising-early-signs-of-alzheimers-disease/?hide_newsletter=true&utm_source=Next+Avenue+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=982b1bc19a-10.27.2015_NextAvenue_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_056a405b5a-982b1bc19a-165348737&mc_cid=982b1bc19a&mc_eid=329313c88e

Medicare Coverage of Hospice

Hospice

Tips for Long Distance Caregiving

http://www.aarp.org/relationships/caregiving-resource-center/info-09-2010/pc_tips_for_long_distance_caregiver.html

How Aging Affects Swallowing Ability

http://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/how-aging-affects-our-swallowing-ability/

St. Louis Nursing Home Worker Charged With Rape

Nursing home attendant charged with attempted rape of coworker

6 Things to Know About Hospice (as a professional)

Hospice is a highly regulated and looked upon industry.  As we approach 2016, we have some major changes to look forward to concerning hospice reimbursement along with changes in level of care.  Kissner recently published an ebook discussing some of the changes and below is a take away of what we can expect for hospice as we approach 2016.

Payment changes:

We can expect a new two tiered calculation of payment for routine home care.  Quite a change from the single per diem rate, hospice vendors currently expect.  Going forward hospice vendors will receive a higher rate for days 1-60 and a lower rate for any days of care after day 60.

Episodes of care:

There can not be more than a 60 day break to qualify for a continuous episode of care.  Episode days for 2016 will include those accrued in 2015.  The episode will also follow the client from one hospice vendor to another.

Medicare will require billing to be submitted in full including both the higher and lower rate – there will be no split payment.

GIP will be reimbursed at a lower rate after day 60 as well.  After day 60 a hospice vendor will receive the routine home care rate.

RN and MSW’s will be the only disciplines that will receive payment for service add on intensity in the last 7 days of life for 4 hours a day.

Aggregate cap value for the year will be a value of 27,820.75

Hospice vendors in 2016 can expect a change in survey to occur ever 3 years