A: Alliance Home Health and Hospice has moved!! New address: 440 E. Clark St., Suite A, Pocatello, ID 83201. Come see us during our Open House on Friday, November 26th. Stay tuned for more information!! Contact Alliance Home Health and Hospice for more information at 208-478-6677 or visit our website at www.alliancehhh.com .

A: You may qualify for Home Health if you need skilled nursing care or therapy services for an acute medical problem over a relatively short period of time and you must be homebound. Homebound is defined as: leaving home is a major effort; you are normally unable to leave home unassisted. A doctor must order home health services in order for insurance, Medicare or Medicaid to pay. How much does it cost? The allowable fee for services is regulated by Medicare and Medicaid and personal insurance and varies depending on the service you might require based on the Doctor’s order. Some insurance companies may require a co-pay. Many times services can be offered at no cost if the patient has Medicare or Medicaid. For a free consultation, please call Alliance Home Health at 208-478-6677.

A: It is true that Hospice care is designed for those who have a life-limiting diagnosis but that does not mean the patient gives up on living. Hospice focuses on helping the family and patient to foster an environment that promotes quality of life and to continue doing the activities they love that give meaning to their lives. Hospice provides all the services needed to allow the patient to remain in their home setting where they can be surrounded by those they love. Hospice care is based on the philosophy that embraces death as a natural part of the life cycle. Terminally ill patients and their families have a right to the best possible palliative care available to relieve physical, emotional and spiritual pain. If you want more information please call Alliance at 208-478-6677.

A: Everyone encounters loss that brings sadness and despair. Often we don’t take time to acknowledge and process the cumulative effects of each loss. A helpful exercise used in support groups is to view past losses with a perspective identifying and categorizing primary, secondary and disenfranchised losses associated with each event. Bereavement recall helps find meaning in loss enabling us to overcome roadblocks in the grieving process. Primary loss is easiest to identify. Secondary losses are often overlooked although they strongly impacted us and are not always recognized or acknowledged. Disenfranchised loss is not validated and society is reluctant to provide grievers the opportunity to vent painful feelings. After people have completed this exercise they say, “I am amazed how the weight I felt has been lifted.” A wise quote from James Baldwin states, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.” Alliance Hospice offers a series of bereavement classes open to the public at no cost. For more information, please contact Dona at 208-478-6677.

A: The best way to meet these challenges is with creativity, flexibility, patience and compassion. You can’t change the person you are caring for because they have a brain disorder that has shaped who they have become. Trying to control the changed behavior will most likely be unsuccessful or at the very least, be met with resistance. So, what can you do? Try to accommodate the behavior, not control it. Don’t contradict their memories or who they think they are or what they think they are doing or what they might be planning to do. Remember, their behavior has a purpose – people with dementia typically can’t tell us what they want or need. Behavior is triggered – something someone said or did or a change in environment. What works one day may not work the next. Brainstorm or get ideas from others. As a caregiver, make time for yourself – take a break, get help, eat well, exercise, sleep well, get support from support groups. Don’t try to do this alone. If you would like more information, please call and get help. Call 208-478-6677 and ask for Leticia.

A: Hospice volunteers are a wonderful part of the hospice team. Hospice volunteering is diverse and only limited to the volunteer’s interests and talents. Volunteers, quite simply, come alongside someone during the end stages of life’s journey. Consider one of Alliance’s volunteers – Kathie visited an 82-year-old woman with COPD and myeloma; they shared an avid interest in Frank Sinatra. Kathie brought Sinatra memorabilia during her visits and listened to the patient’s memories and experiences. A close friendship developed. Kathie asked the patient if she would like to attend a Sinatra impersonator concert. Kathie made arrangements with the caregiver for safe transport and care of the paient for the show. Kathie created a wonderful experience for the patient and stated, “Imagine her surprise when the singer dedicated a song to her and came right in front of her to sing, “You’ve Got Me Under Your Skin”. She cried off and on with joy. And she wiggled and “danced” in her chair as best she could”. For weeks after, the patient joyfully told of her experience to all who would listen. In an earlier visit, she told me one of her goals was to dance again before she died. Kathie cared enought to plan a wonderful experience, providing her with one last “dance”. Contact 208-478-6677 and join us by becoming a hospice volunteer at Alliance Hospice.

A: You may qualify for Home Health if you need skilled nursing care or therapy services for an acute medical problem over a relatively short period of time, and you must be homebound. Homebound is defined as: leaving home is a major effort; you are normally unable to leave home unassisted. For instance, if you can’t drive or if you are blind and have no one to provide transportation, you would be considered “homebound”. A doctor must order home health services in order for insurance, Medicare and Medicaid to pay. How much does it cost? The allowable fee for services is regulated by Medicare and Medicaid and personal insurance and varies depending on the service you might require based on the Doctor’s order. Some insurance companies may require a co-pay. Many times, services can be offered at no cost to people with Medicare and Medicaid. Home health does not provide nor pay for any medications the patient is taking. For a free consultation, please call Mona at Alliance Home Health 208-478-6677.

A: Medicare and Medicaid guidelines state that diabetic education and care can be paid for if the following conditions are present: If the patient is incapable of giving themselves their shots or other treatments because one or more of the following conditions exist (including, but not limited to) a. Blindness; b. Unsteady Hands; c. Mental Impairments; if all options have been exhausted to find family members or friends who will administer the needed treatments. An assessment must be made at each treatment to evaluate the patient’s condition and evaluate continued treatment needs. Call our registered nurses to see if you qualify for Home Health Services. Ask for Mona at 208-478-6677 for a free evaluation today. Do you think you might have Diabetes? Here are a few symptoms: 1. Thirsty all of the time. 2. Frequent urination. 3. Unexplained fatigue. 4. Unexplained weight loss. or 5. Family history of Diabetes. You may be among a growing population that have Type II Diabetes and don’t know it. Treatment usually consists of getting tested, getting medical help to manage and monitor your health, getting education and joining a support group. You don’t have to face this disease alone. Sharing solutions, recipes and life stories can reduce your frustration and increase your confidence in your ability to manage your disease. For more information, contact 208-478-6677.

A: Medicare and Medicaid guidelines state that diabetic education and care can be paid for if the following conditions exist: The patient is incapable of giving themselves their shots or other treatments because one or more of the following conditions exist (including, but not limited to): blindness, unsteady hands, mental impairments; all options have been exhausted to find family members or friends who will administer the needed treatments; an assessment must be made at each treatment to evaluate the patient’s conditions and continued treatment needs. Of course, it is always best to call for a quick evaluation by one of our registered nurses. Our director of nursing is our resident expert regarding diabetes care. Please call Mona at 208-478-6677 for the free evaluation today.