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Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

What Not to Do When Choosing Home Health Care

Friday, February 24, 2012

Home health care is usually referring to help for the elderly who are unable to care for themselves, but that isn't always the case. Home health care can be professional nursing care, personal care services and/or companionship care. Signing up with a local service doesn't have to be a chore, but you do keep a few things in mind:

Don't choose blindly - Do research on each and every care service you find. How long have they been providing care? Are they licensed or certified? Do they have a website where you can read other clients' reviews? Are they qualified to give medical care? Will the agency provide you with employee references?

Don't go with the cheapest option - Money is tight for everyone, but that doesn't mean you should skimp on your loved one's care. Some services offer only minimal care and that may not be enough for your situation.

Don't go with the most expensive option - Just because a service is expensive, doesn't mean that it would be best for you. If you family member is not in need of medical care, then it might not be necessary to sign up with a registered nurse. Also, a service may require you to use their services for more hours per week than you need.

Don't overlook anything - what type of care will you be needing? Help with daily chores? Rehabilitation therapy? Delivery of medication? A registered nurse? A respiratory therapist? Be sure that the services you seek are the same services that they provide.

Don't hesitate to ask - When selecting the best option for your loved one, be sure to not leave any questions unanswered. This is an important decision that you are making and one that requires a lot of thought. Some companies may appear at first glance to not be able to offer the services you need, but ask anyway. You might be pleasantly surprised. Be sure to ask what times of the day that services would be available and when they would begin.

Don't forget to read the fine print - How will you be paying for the home health care? Will it be paid by a third party such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration or even a health insurance company? If so, some third party payers will have specific requirements met before they will shell out the money to pay for the service. Be sure to check with your provider that they meet all of these requirements.

Don't forget the patient. Whether the patient is yourself, a friend or a loved one, be sure that they are comfortable with the arrangement you choose and the people who will be serving them. Home health care should quality care in the convenience and comfort of one's home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6890552

Water Retention In Legs - Know The Reasons Behind Water Retention In Your Body

Water retention causes include kidney and heart problems. These are mainly the inability of the kidney and heart to do their function which can lead to swelling of the ankles and the legs. Normally, the retention of water in the legs and ankles are caused by the weak circulation in the leg veins. This will usually occur during pregnancy. In older people it is a result from their varicose veins. Sometimes it is also caused by the congestion of the person's lymphatic system. This condition is known as lymphoedema which commonly occurs after having a surgery. Retention of water is also generally experienced by people who are immobile most of the time. This is common to people who are in wheelchairs, hospital beds and those who are on long haul flights. These people can develop water retention because they have no regular movement and hence the lymphatic system is having a difficult time in draining away excess fluids out of the tissues. In women, they commonly experience premenstrual retention of water which is a result of hormonal change during their menstrual cycle.

One of the major water retention causes is eating too much salty foods. Salt contains sodium which is diluted by water if there is too much of it. Salt can make a person thirsty and your body will hang on to water. Decreasing the salt in your diet can help in releasing retention of water.

Some of the lesser known water retention causes are hormonal levels and medicines. Your body tends to hold on to water if you have high levels of hormones. This usually occurs to people who are having insulin for their sugar and cortisone which usually occurs when a person is under stressed. The female hormones estrogen and progesterone are also some causes; the effects of these hormones on sodium levels in your body are the main causes of your body having to retain more water. Prescribed medicines such as painkillers and contraceptive pills can also have an effect on your hormones which could then result in having your body to retain water. Retention of water caused by hormones is generally spread around the body and most of time your tummy will be generally affected. Sometimes women can experience retention of water in the breast which can lead to breast swelling and breast tenderness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6852166

 

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