While some caregivers come to the role with prior experience, many new caregivers only know what they learned in health class in school, from watching TV programs, or through life experiences. As a result, realizing all that it takes to manage someone else’s care suddenly becomes overwhelming when they first begin to take on the care of someone else. The caregiver feels like they must learn everything doesn’t know how or where to start.
Helping caregivers figure out what they need and where to get it is the focus of “Starting Out.” Some fundamental topics are helpful for all caregivers to know. “First Steps” presents the basics and then provides additional details you’ll need with “Understanding Healthcare,” “Legal Considerations,” and “Money Management.”
Medicaid Eligibility You’re not alone if you decided to apply for Medicaid but got lost before going too far. Applying for Medicaid is not for the faint of heart. It’s confusing and complex. Each state has its own rules, and the rules change annually. Furthermore, at least in Virginia, each Medicaid Program has different rules …
Medicaid Eligibility Read More »
Furthermore, rules and regulations are detailed and restrictive. Unless you know what to and not to do, it is easy to run afoul of their rules. The world of healthcare is a dangerous place for family caregivers and your family member if you are not well-versed in knowing how to be a patient advocate. When …
Advocating for Care Read More »
Standards of Practice Whether receiving care from a small-town hospital or a nationally owned health system, government agencies maintain strict oversight of the healthcare industry and all associated organizations. Likewise, each healthcare profession maintains standards of practice by which they expect healthcare professionals practicing under their job titles to follow. While each state may vary, …
Healthcare Regulations Read More »
The Healthcare Team It’s important to know who’s who on the healthcare team anytime you’re interacting with healthcare professionals. Understanding the chain of authority and who handles which type of problems can save you a lot of time and wasted energy. In addition, if you attempt to move forward on an issue without this knowledge, …
The Healthcare Team Read More »
Learning How to Do a Health Assessment When I worked as a home health nurse and received a new patient assignment, I always did a health assessment the first time I met the patient. The purpose of the health assessment was to check out the patient from head to toe to see for myself if …
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Feels Overwhelming. After first becoming a caregiver, one of the most difficult tasks is learning what to keep and let go. With caregiving, you acquired full responsibility for care, decision-making, finances, appointments, health monitoring, supplies, and, let’s not forget, entertainment for possibly someone who doesn’t want you telling them what to do. Yet, at the …
Feeling Overwhelmed? Read More »
Did I Mean What I Said or Say What I Meant? When two people have a conversation, both come with preconceived ideas regarding how it will go. When getting started as caregivers and planning a difficult conversation about job duties, we sometimes have trouble saying what we mean. Instead of saying what we want to …
Planning a Difficult Conversation Read More »
Cardinal Care Managed Care https://virginiamanagedcare.com/ Virginia’s Medicaid Managed Care program offers multiple options to enrollees. Individuals have a choice regarding the healthcare benefit they select based on their location and personal healthcare needs. Each plan offers a basic healthcare benefit plan plus extra benefits that might influence the selection. Selections in 2023 included …
Virginia’s Medicaid Programs Read More »
Battling Emotions The unpredictable nature of managing someone else’s world and medical condition often feels beyond the caregiver’s control. However, controlling the situation remains their responsibility. Battling emotions like fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration can overwhelm a caregiver given the chance. These emotions threaten to rise to the surface as the caregiver struggles to fight …
Little Time to Deal with Caregiver Emotions Since caregivers often acquire their role suddenly, they have little time to prepare for new responsibilities mentally, financially, or emotionally. Often, they must deal with caregiver emotions by stuffing them inside to think about later as they move on to the next decision to make. Meanwhile, they …
Dealing with Caregiver Emotions Read More »
Donna Steigleder, Healthcare to Homecare, LLC
Email: donnasteigleder@hctohomecare.com
Phone: 804-241-5350
Fax: 804-769-4695
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